
Copyright N°. 



COPYRIGHT DEFOSrr 




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THE HOME 

THAT WAS BUILT 

BY HENS 



Bi; 
"UNCLE^CAL" STODDARD 

Illustrated By L. Stahmer, Jr. 



Published Bt 

AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 

542 S. Deaebobn Steeet, Chicago, III. 

1913 



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COPYRIGHT 1913 

AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL PUB. CO. 

542 S. DEARBORN STREET 

CHICAGO 



0)C1,A358649 
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in 2011 witii funding from 
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'We will have to dispeuse with Campbell's services, and the order is to go into efEect 
Saturday night." 




THE HOME THAT WAS BUILT BY HENS. 

By "Uncle Cal" Stoddard. 
CHAPTER I. 

"OUCHING an electric push button, connected 
with the mahogany desk before which he was 
sitting', Lyman Roberts, General Manager of 
the Great Interurban Transportation Co., 
called into his presence, Jim Lytle, his Super- 
intendent. 

Pushing back from his desk, and leisurely 
puffing his cigar, he said, ' ' Lytle, I 've a rather 
disagreeable duty to perform, and it's one 
which I've concluded to delegate to you. It 
refers to Ned Campbell, foreman of the oper- 
ating department. As a first step, by way of 
retrenchment and a reduction of operating ex- 
penses, the Board of Directors have concluded that we Avill have 
to dispense with Campbell's services, and the order is to go 
into effect Saturday night." 

"I'm very sorry to hear this Mr. Roberts, said Lytle, not 
only because Campbell is the best foreman that we have ever 
hacl, but because he has been wath us ever since the merger with 
the South Side Co., in '85, and is a most efficient and careful 
man. He is well liked by the men under him, and his every 
thought seems to be at all times for the interests of the 
Company. ' ' 

"Yes, I know, Lytle, and it is for the reasons that you sug- 
gest, that the task is a hard one, and why I have placed, its per- 
formance upon your shoulders. If I could have my way about 
it, Campbell's name would never be dropped from our pay 
rolls. However, an order has issued from the President, to the 
effect that expense must be cut in that Department and as Ned 
is the highest priced man, the Board have concluded that he 
is the one to get the "blue envelope." That it will be a rather 
poor Christmas present to hand a man who has been so faithful 
to our interests for so many years, goes without saying. He is 
booked to go however, and I wish you to notify him. 

Very well, Mr. Roberts. It is a very undesirable task which 

5 



6 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

you have imposed, and I would gladly give a month's salary 
from my own pocket if Campbell might be retained. It is hard 
to be let out at this time of the year, and in this ease it is 
doubly so, by reason of the fact that Ned's wife has not as yet 
fully recovered from her recent illness. His bank account has 
been badly depleted by the payment of Doctor's bills, and the 
suspension of his earning power at this time, and under these 
conditions, is a matter much to be regretted. 

"Quite true, Lytle, quite true," and it may not be out of 
place, if I say to you, that his dismissal is not at all to my 
liking, nor in line with my ideas of justice. In fact, I feel, 
personally — mind you, and not as an official of the Company 
— that Campbell's dismissal might justly be termed an injus- 
tice to him and an act of ingratitude upon the part of the 
Company. But it's orders, Lytle, and you know what that 
means. After all, the relation between the Employer and the 
employed is one of business, and your experience has shown you 
the truthfulness of the saying, that "there is no sentiment in 
business." 

"You and I may think as we like, but orders must be 
obeyed. I trust you will do the job as pleasantly as you can, 
and be careful to spare in every way the big, manly feelings 
of one of the best men, whose name ever graced the Company's 
pay roll." 

As he finished speaking ]\Ir. Roberts arose and looked 
thoughfully out into the darkening day and the brilliantly 
lighted thoroughfare of the great metropolis. Putting on his 
warm coat and gloves, preparatory to leaving for the night, 
he said, "Lytle, what an awful thing it is to be dependent! 
I have often thought of it, but this case of Ned Campbell 
impresses me more than usual." 

"In this great industrial corporation we are all more or 
less dependent. Even I, as general manager, might have my 
tenure of office cut short as we discharge Ned Campbell. Every 
man who works for a corporation is simply a cog in the ma- 
chine. He can be removed and another anci less expensive one 
put in his place and the machine goes on just the same. So 
often have I seen this happen with men whose lives have been 
spent in service, leaving them to spend their declining years in 
actual want. It is indeed sad, and as a result of what I have 
observed during my years of activity in the business world, I 
would say to every man, be he young or middle age, 'Don't be 
a cog in some corporate machine, but by all that makes life 



The Home That Was BuiU by Hens 7 

dear, be independent.' As old 'Doc' Potter used to say, 'If 
it's only a peannt stand with an umbrella over you, you know 
it's yours.' And, Lytle, it is so." 

"Men become linked to some business and simply drift 
along. The days run into weeks, the weeks into months and 
years; they reach middle age, their earning capacity begins to 
wane ; the evening of life comes on, finding them where poor 
Ned Campbell is today; and the world moves on unmindfid 
of the wreckage left behind." 

"As I said before, no one knows when or where the axe 
may fall. That old saying, 'There is always a Avheel within a 
wheel,' is quite true. You, as superintendent, are accountable 
to me as General Manager. I, as General Manager, am respons- 
ible to my Board of Directors, as are also the President and 
other officers. They in tnrn must give an account of their 
responsibilities to the stock holders who elect them. Too often 
a majority interest in the stock of our great industries is con- 
trolled by the large banking interests, and they in turn by 
what are known as the great 'captains of industry.' In the 
last analysis, it's the peoples' money that goes into these vast 
enterprises, and it's the power to control the peoples' money 
that makes these 'captains of industry.' The price of our 
stocks and bonds, both actual and speculative, is fixed, in a 
large degree, by their income producing power. The "Cap- 
tains," would soon lose their prestige with the Banks and 
Trust Companies, unless they produced results. Hence it's 
"results" that they must secure. 

Ned Campbell's salary of $1,800.00 per year means a five 
per cent dividend on $36,000.00 of our stock, and it's divi- 
dends that they want. If these dividends be wet with the 
tears of grief, or the blood of human suffering, it matters not. 
They never know, nor do they care. Capital claims the inalien- 
able right to purchase human effort, at the lowest possible 
price, and to the best possible advantage. There is no "senti- 
ment" about it, and I am very frank to say that, personally, 
my ideas of right and wrong are hardly in accord with this 
latter day philosophy of the business world. 

What I have said is said simply to picture to you the 
pitiful situation of every man who casts his fortunes as a 
laborer in the building of our great corporations. There is no 
such thing as independence under such circumstances, and the 
many things that God gives to His people, to make for their 



8 The Home That Was Buih by Hens 

happiness, are, to the millions who make up the masses, prac- 
tically unknown. 

"Well, good night, Lytle. It looks like the beginning of 
real Winter." "It surely does, Mr. Roberts, Good night." 

Lyman Roberts was a man born of plain New England par- 
entage, and under his fur lined coat beat a big, honest heart, 
that revolted at the dismissal of Ned Campbell as an injustice 
to honest effort, and as a wrongful disregard of his rights as a 
worker in the great Industrial combination of which he was 
President. 

As his luxuriously appointed Auto threaded its way through 
the dense throng of humanity, ever and forever moving here 
and there, Mr. Roberts was so deep in thought as to be oblivious 
to all that was passing about him. 

Alighting in front of his brilliantly illumined home, wherein 
might be seen all the evidences of happiness and ' ' Good Cheer, ' ' 
consequent upon the approaching Christmas time, he shook his 
head, and with the deepest feelings of sorrow, said, "Poor 
Campbell." 



CHAPTER II. 




lEFORE the General Manager of the Great 
Interiirban Transportation Company had 
reached his home on the evening of December 
22, 1903, his Superintendent, Jim Lytle, had 
carried "the message to Garcia." In other 
words he had performed the unpleasant duty 
assigned him by his Superior, and had noti- 
fied Ned Campbell of his dismissal from the 
service of the Company. 

Jim Lytle was a college graduate, and the 
son of a Bank President. His appointment, 
made two years before, was brought about by 
reason of his father's influence with the Board 
of Directors. From the moment he took up the important 
duties of his office, he had realized his lack of fitness for the 
position. In Ned Campbell he had found a loyal friend, and 
the feelings between the men were such as tended to more firmiy 
cement the bonds of friendship as the days went on. In the 
intricate maze of practical business life, the College graduate 
was soon lost, and it was only the knowledge, bought by experi- 
ence and possessed by Ned Campbell, that in Jim's early days 
as Superintendent, had led him safely over many pitfalls. 

It was little wonder that there was a huskiness in Jim's voice 
as he broke the news to Campbell of his dismissal from his posi- 
tion, and that "his services were no longer required." So 
keenly did he feel for Ned, that he at once offered to secure the 
infiuence of his father in the hope of retaining him in his 
position. 

"As we used to say in college, Ned, things seem to be com- 
ing your way in bunches," said Jim. AVith the expense of 
keeping your son Allison in that Agricultural college ; the ill- 
ness of your wife, and the losing of your position, you have 
about all the load that any one man in your financial condition 
ought to be expected to carry. Now, Ned, if you will just say 
the word, I '11 go to the front for you, and perhaps the Governor 
can save the day. He's pretty strong with the Board, and in 
fact, I hardly think they would dare disregard a recjuest com- 
ing from him in a matter of this kind." 



10 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

Ned Campbell's father had been a plain farmer np in the 
central part of the State, and Ned was one of several children. 
In his boyhood days he had known what it was to feel the pain- 
fnl throb of a "stone brnise" on his toe, and, he had often 
warmed his feet on a cold October morning: in the g:rass where 
the cows had slept the night l)efore. He had hnnted rabbits, 
and "dng out" woodchncks, before he was twelve years old. 
On Winter morning's he had filled the wood box for mother, 
pumped water for the stock, cleaned the horses, and looked 
after "grandma's" hens, before taking his lunch basket with 
its doughnuts and link of sausage, and starting on his mile 
tramp to the old red schoolhouse on the hill. All this had 
meant discipline to his youthful mind, and it was this discipline 
of his boy hod days, that had made him a master of detail and 
that had brought him constant promotion wherever he had been 
employed. It was that discipline, backed by a splendid in- 
tegrity and good sense, that had made him foreman of the 
operating department. It was the discipline of plain living, 
and clean thinking, that had made Ned Campbell a real man, 
with a keen vision, and a heart wherein the "milk of human 
kindness" was found to flow in abundance. 

As he sat there the embodiment of honesty, and a splendid 
manhood, his big blue eyes wide open with amazement at Jim's 
news, his mind became keenly alert to the exact situation. 

He had often felt that all Mr. Roberts had said to Lytle was 
true. With him the dependence and helplessness of the em- 
ployed had been a matter of earnest thought. He had seen 
others who were lower down in the ranks dropped from the 
pay roll, and the lesson had come to him on these occasions. 
He fully realized that Jim Lytle meant all that he said as to 
the invoking of his father's influence in his behalf, and that no 
doubt such influence would result in his maintaining his posi- 
tion. This thought, to his mind, however, was at once distaste- 
ful. To him "merit" was the only password that should give a 
man preferment in business, or in any field in which hs might 
engage. To hold a position by reason of a "pull" was to Ned 
an humiliation and simply out of the question. 

As Lytle finished speaking, Ned regained his composure, and 
without the slightest showing of a resentful feeling, said, "No, 
Jim, I can't permit you to do that. I'd feel that I was paying 
too great a price for the privilege of remaining with the com- 
pany, because it would be, under those circumstances, at the 
expense of my self-respect. Old Elder Ripley used to say that 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 11 

"self-respect is one of the greatest assets a man can have," 
and I beheve it's so. Therefore, while I want yon to feel that 
I fully appreciate yonr kindly intentions, I ninst decline yonr 
offer of intervention in my behalf. The order has been given, 
and I mnst abide by it. ]\Iaybe after all it's only for the best. 
You, no doubt, think it a great adversity. Just at this time, it 
does come hard, and perhaps a fellow would be justified in 
wondering how it is possible for men to be so unmindful of the 
"golden rule" as set forth in the teaching of He whose birth 
we celebrate at this season of the year. 

*T remember reading somewhere an expression of a noted 
writer who said, 'A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner, 
neither does uninterrupted prosperity and success qualify men 
for usefulness and happiness.' If, as some claim, 'adversity is 
the diamond powder with which Heaven polishes its jewels,' I 
surely ought to have a lustre such as would make me the envy 
of the sun. 

"Now, Jim, even though the Goddess of Justice should weep 
her eyes out because of my dismissal, it is my duty to be a 
philosopher. It may be that Allison will have to give up his 
last six months at college and that Santa Clause will be a little 
short in his donation at the Campbell residence, but I am still 
healthy Ned Campbell. For several years I have felt the yoke, 
and yearned for the freedom that I used to know. Of course, 
it would have been pleasanter to have had it come over the 
"resignation route" instead of the "blue envelope flyer," yet 
the ultimate result is just the same. Allison is nearly eighteen. 
He has had two and one-half years at the State Agricultural 
School, and perhaps he will have some suggestions to make 
when he learns how the business depression has been playing 
tag with his dad. I am exceedingly sorry that our business 
relations have come to a close, but I shall hope to see you often. 
If I should conclude to go up into the country, as I have often 
thought of doing, it would be a fine place for you to spend your 
summer vacations. Since I came to the city, I have had ample 
opportunity to observe the artificiality of city life, and it surely 
has left its mark. "Well, I'll finish making the test of the new 
electric motor and get everything in shape for Saturday 
evening." 

"Ned, you're the best fellow I ever met," said Lytic. "In- 
stead of taking these things to heart, tearing your hair, and 
calling everybody names which wouldn't look well in print, yon 
simply say 'all right' and pass it along. I suppose that's what 



12 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

you call "being a philosopher." Well, I have gone through 
Yale and seen something of the world, bnt I have learned a les- 
son in fortitude from you tonight that I won't forget in a long, 
long time." 

"Why, Jim, my dear fellow, don't you know the things we 
often count as misfortunes are, after all, the kindly ministerings 
of God's angels leading us into a land of better things? My 
services to this company have been worth $1,800 per year, 
otherwise they would not have paid me that amount. I am 
still capable of as good, and even better service. Bear in mind, 
Jim, that I am now free, and there is 110 limit to the possihili- 
ties of a free man who is in earnest. If there is anything fur- 
ther that you want looked into before Saturday night, just say 
the word." 




CHAPTER III. 

T was Saturday night. The las-t man in the 
company's employ had walked up to the pay- 
master's window and received an envelope, the 
contents of which represented his earnings for 
the previous week. As each had signed the 
{)ay roll and stepped out past the special offi- 
cer always stationed at the paymaster's win- 
dow, he had passed around the corner of the 
office to the repair shop, out of which was the 
exit leading to the street. 

There was an atmosphere present among the 

men indicative of something unusual; they 

were talking in suppressed tones, a little group here, another 

there ; and upon the faces of all was a look of expectancy for 

the arrival of one who had not yet put in his appearance. 

Presently big Jack Comstock, one of the moulders, was seen 
approaching, and with him the foreman, Ned Campbell. As 
Ned reached the midst of the fifty or more employees, they 
suddenly and as if with one volition, congregated about him. 
Each was clothed in his shop apparel, grimy with the sweat and 
dirt of the day's work; each was carrying his empty dinner 
pail, and each one seemed engrossed with thoughts of the same 
subject. 

Looking from one to the other, as if to read in their faces 
their thoughts, and hoping that some of them would break the 
stillness, Ned finally said, "Well boys, there seems to be some- 
thing unusual on your minds, and while Jack has asked me to 
come out here and see you, he has not told me the purpose of 
the gathering. I hope that those old rumors of discontent and 
a threatened strike have not broken out again, but if they have, 
let me say in advance, I am against you. You all know, of 
course, that I am no longer your foreman, but I want to say to 
you that the earnings of the company, owing to the business 
depression, do not warrant an increase in salaries at this time, 
and I hope that you'll stand by the company and wait for 
better times." 

As he paused, waiting for someone either to dispel his fears 
or verify his suspicions as to the purpose of this informal 

13 





Course 'taint much, Mr. Campbell, but it's our brotherly feeling for a man what's always showed 
a brotherly feeling for us. 



14 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 15 

gathering, suddenly big Jack stepped out from the group of 
men and said, "No, IMr. Campbell, 'taint that; but if 'twant 
that you've always told the boys that it pays to play fair, we'd 
think it was our duty to "go out" in a bunch tonight, just be- 
cause of the way you've been treated by the company. We 
don't think it's square. You've been the best friend us boys 
ever had. When we w'as right, you always stood by us, and 
when we was wrong, you always showed us what was right. 
There ain't a man here tonight what wouldn't go on his hands 
and knees from Harlem to Hoboken for you, even in the middle 
of the night, and that's 'cause we've always found you on the 
square. 

"Now, in handlin' pig iron and breakin' up forms, I am 
right to home and strong on the job, but when it comes to 
speech-making, course I'm a little shy on the big words. The 
hojs has got me into a job this time that I guess I ain't going 
to till with much satisfaction to anybody, so if I get tired, I'll 
take my medicine like a man. 

"The fact is, Mr. Campbell, that we're here just as you see 
us poor fellers, all dirt, but all wool at the same time. There 
ain't any more polish on us than there is in what I'm saying; 
but, if you could look downi under these sweaters and jumpers, 
you'd find some hearts that are this minute jumping like jack 
rabbits, and the kind what comes about as near being the real 
stutf as you'll find anywhere in the world. AVe all know that 
you're going away tonight, and that we w^on't see you around 
here any more, nor hear you say 'good morning' to the fellers 
when the w^histle blows. I guess mebbe if we was to tell the 
truth, this laying off by the company has sort of put a damper 
on Christmas for all of us; but it's done and that's all there is 
to it. We ain't getting very big wages just now, and we've 
all got families, but — but — we've got something — gol darn it! 
— that is, the boys here has gone and bought something, I guess 
it's called a silver coffee pot, and some fixings that goes along 
with it, as a sort of Christmas present for you and Mrs. Camp- 
bell, and as a sort of showing our feelings at this time. Course 
'taint much, Mr. Campbell, but it shows our brotherly feeling 
for a man what's always showed a brotherly feeling for us. 

"I've been a long time getting this speech out of my hide, 
and I hope you'll take the present and that it'll make you think 
kind thoughts of us boys when you're away. Now, here it is, 
and as its purchase represents the sweat of our brows and the 



16 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

aching of our muscles, so does it carry with it our love for you 
and yours and our best wishes wherever you go." 

The stillness was unbroken for some time, save for the sus- 
picious wiping of noses and rubbing of eyes on the coat sleeves 
of those big, honest toilers in the realm of industrial activity. 
Tears glistened in the eyes of Ned Campbell as he gazed upon 
this splendid token of his men's love for him. 

When at last he felt a confidence in his voice which would 
enable him to speak, he said: "Boys, this gift means more to 
me than words can express. It is not what you've given; but 
it's the manner in which you've given it. As I gaze upon it in 
the years to come, it will picture to my mind this little gather- 
ing here tonight, and the faces of you men, who, in the years 
in which Ave have been associated together, I have learned to 
love as my brother men. It will recall the many evidences of 
your sturdy integrity, your loyalty to my ideas of fairness and 
justice and the sacrifice I know each of you have been com- 
pelled to make in its purchase. Tomorrow is Christmas Day. 
Tomorrow we celebrate the birth of Him of whom it has been 
written: <<in the beauty of the lily, Christ was 
born across the sea, 

With a glory in his bosom that transfigures 
you and me. 

As He died to make men holy, let us live 
to make men free, 

While Christ is marching on. ' ' 

This is a beautiful sentiment, and as He proclaimed peace 
on earth, good will towards men, I find my heart wishing for 
you all at this Holiday season, the divine blessing of Him who 
"doeth all things well." We are all truly brothers of a com- 
mon ancestry, and in expressing to you all my brotherly regard 
and appreciation for this beautiful gift, I want to take each of 
you by the hand and say 'good night, and good bye.' " 

When each had at last filed by, and had felt that hearty 
hand clasp of honest, brotherly feeling, a drama in one act had 
been enacted upon the stage of life, which would never be for- 
gotten by the participants. 

Going back into the office, Ned Campbell exhibited the beau- 
tiful silver set to Jim Lytic, carefully wrapped it up with the 
presents which he had bought for Dolly and the boy, took a 
last look at his desk, put on his overcoat, and tucking the big 
package under his arm, shook hands with Jim, wished him a 
merry Christmas, and started for his modest little home in. 
Farrell street. 




CHAPTER IV. 



|T would be necessary for one to really "know Ned 
Campbell to fully understand the workings of 
his mind as he wended his way homeward on 
this Christmas Eve. Peelings of sadness were 
intermingled with those of relief from bond- 
age and the hope of better things to come. Yes, 
he had lost his position, but the greatest re- 
gret he felt was in saying "good-bye" to the 
boys. Dolly was not as strong as he would 
wish, but the doctor was hopeful. Allison was 
well, and he was home from school to spend 
the holidays with them. Love reigned with 
sovereign power in the Campbell home, and 
tomorrow was Christmas, the season of good cheer. 

It was a principle Mdth Ned Campbell to live every day as 
though it were the only one left on the calendar, and each night 
found him at peace with the world. So, as he greeted his little 
family with a laugh, and breathed in the oxygen of happiness 
which prevaded his home on this Christmas Eve, there were no 
feelings of resentment towards his former employers because of 
his sudden dismissal from service. 

The next day after dinner, the family went into executive 
session for the purpose of discussing the future. An audit of 
the savings bank book showed $900 to the good. The health 
account, so far as the male members were concerned, was ex- 
cellent, and as to the third member, it was pronounced "hope- 
ful." Allison had six months to spend at the Agricultural 
College and that time could be skipped without seriously affect- 
ing his standing at graduation time. 

Having made this summary of assets, the next c^uestion 
which came up for consideration was, "What shall we do?" 
This was a perplexing problem. Ned had always worked on a 
salary. Dolly's work had always been one of love for the 
home and family, while Allison, up to the present time, had 
been not only a non-producer, but an item of expense charge- 
able to the general fund. 

In the discussions which followed, it was decided that the 
inexperience of youth should defer to the knowledge supposed 

17 



18 The Home That Was Buih by Hens 

to be possessed by those of mature years.. Dad had always been 
a good provider, and his judgment at this time was no doubt 
the best. Times were hard, so the probability of finding em- 
ployment with firms did not present a very bright outlook. He 
had had no experience in business, having always been in the 
ranks of the employed. When the possibilities and probabilities 
had all been discussed and narrowed down to the finest point, 
Allison for the first time spoke up, saying, "Dad, have you 
ever thought you would like to go back and live in the 
country ? " 

"Yes, son," replied his father, "many and many a time. I 
am frank to say that there have been very few days during all 
the years I have mingled with men in this busy city, that I 
have not had some thoughts of spending my latter days among 
the green fields of the country. I have never given the subject 
much serious consideration, however, because I have wanted to 
give you a good education, and your mother all the comforts 
possible ; but why do you ask ? ' ' 

"Well," answered Allison, "my education has fitted me 
for such a life. You've worked for me eighteen years, and I'd 
like to work for you as many. I believe that the country air 
would have a wonderfully beneficial effect upon mother's health, 
and I am sure that we would all be happy if we were together 
and well. From what I've been taught in college, I have come 
to believe that there are great possibilities in the country when 
there is hearty family co-operation, in a common cause. So, as 
the minority member of this committee, I w^ant to propose the 
country. ' ' 

"Coming home on the train yesterday, I bought a little 
book, which the newsboys were selling, called, "The Tale of 
the Golden Egg." It was a most fascinating little story and 
it surely does point the way to success in vihat has come to be 
known as the great poultry industry of the country. I have 
taken my full course in poultry; I have all the theory there is 
to get. Of course, dad, I know that you and mother will simply 
smile, and I know that you and all your ancestors w^ere from 
Missouri — as the fellows say — but I am ready to 'show you' 
how it can be done, if you wall agree to act as general counsel 
for the enterprise." 

"Well, son," said the father, "it is often the unusual and 
unexpected things in life that bring the greatest returns. This 
is a move I had not contemplated. However, if you feel that 
way about it, it looks to me as though the proposition was 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 19 

strictly 'np to mother.' If she saj-s 'I approve,' I guess that 
would come pretty near settling the whole matter. I move we 
take an informal vote upon the proposition and that you act as 
teller. We will each w^rite the words 'y^s' or 'no' on a piece 
of paper and a majority vote shall carry the day." 

There w^as a hurried skirmish for paper and pencil, and the 
three votes were written out and deposited in Allison's hat. 
With a smile Mrs. Campbell directed the teller to count them, 
and when the result was announced, it was found that the vote 
had been unanimously in the affirmative. Allison's hat went 
into the air as he gave a wild yell of happy exultation, mother 
quietly smiled, while Ned was more thoughtful than he had 
been for some time. 

Finally he said : "Well, the decision is made. The Rubicon 
is crossecl, so to speak, and now, Mr. Campbell (addressing 
Allison), you may exercise your knowledge and theory in sug- 
gesting location and the particular line of agricultural pursuit 
in which this firm shall engage." 

"Location — within one hundred miles of New York; busi- 
ness — egg farming," said Allison without a moment's hesita- 
tion. The firm shall consist of three members: IMr. Edward 
Campbell, President; Mr. Allison Campbell, General Manager 
and all around hustler; and Mrs. Mary Campbell as motherly 
mediator and superintendent of the doughnut division." 

A hearty laugh followed this youthful division of responsi- 
bility, and a general feeling of relief became apparent. Within 
an hour an armful of publications w^ere deposited on the library 
table, describing country properties for sale, giving full par- 
ticulars as to location and prices. A list giving minutest de- 
tails was prepared that Christmas night and all preparations 
made for the launching of the new project 




CHAPTER V. 



HE novelist writing about Kendall's Corners, 
, would probably describe it as "a beautiful lit- 
tle liamlet nestling among the foothills of the 
Catskill Mountains in the upper part of Ulster 
■^ County, about eighty miles from the great me- 
tropolis. " "Nestling" sounds romantic as a 
descriptive word, but "bristling" w^ould be 
more appropriate. 

There were congregated at this particular 
point in 1893 thirty-seven families, mostly old 
settlers. Little inducement was offered to new- 
comers because the rock-bound hills could 
scarcely furnish a living for those who Avere there. How the 
minister ever managed to squeeze through the year w^as always 
a question. The Annual Conference sent its apprentices to 
Kendall's Corners, feeling that if they stayed through the 
year, it was ample proof of their devotion to the church; hence 
there was a change of pastors every year. 

A small stream of water furnished power for Hank Irwin's 
grist mill, and in winter a few logs were worked up into planks 
or siding ' ' for patchin ' up 'round. ' ' 

Tobias Williams, an aged descendant of Roger Williams, 
repaired wagons, shod horses and pitched quoits. History says 
that he spent more time at the latter occupation than he did 
working at his trade, and this report finds some confirmation 
in the fact that Toby, as he was called, subsequently died in 
the poorhouse. 

The general store had as its proprietor, Lem Huckins, who 
would never have owned a store, or even a wheel-barrow, if it 
hadn't been handed down to him by his father, known as the 
first white man in Ulster County. Having been disappointed 
in love early in life, Lem had sought surcease from his sorrow 
in being elected Town Constable for twenty years or more. He 
had living rooms connected with his store, and at night slept 
with one end of a clothes line round his neck, the other tied to 
the knob of his safe. He always "allowed ez haow they wa'n't 
no durned burgler goin' to open his safe door without his 
knowin' it." He enjoyed the distinction also of being post- 
20 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 21 

master, and his commission was framed and hnng in a con- 
spicuous part of the store. 

One day in the latter part of February, '94, as Lem sat 
candling seven dozen of "fresh eggs" put down in wood ashes 
and oats by Samantha Williams the fall before, Uncle Ezry 
Walters came in to get his copy of the Farm and Fireside for 
that month. 

Knocking the snow from his heels and taking off his dog- 
skin mittens, he said, "Well, Lem, it's softenin' up some, ain't 
it? I've never knowed it to fail when the old ground hog 
don't see his shadder on Candlemas Day, you might jist as well 
be gittin' the rust oft'en your plow point and look for an early 
spring. By gosh? I watched him all day 'cause I was gittin' 
durned short in fodder, and when it got to be milkin' time 
and no sun, I sez, 'Abby,' sez I, 'You'll soon be hearin' the 
frogs daown in the pastur lot agin'." 

* ' Gess mebliy ez haow you 're right, Uncle Hezzy, ' ' said Lem, 
"leastwise I hope you be. We've had a purty stiddy winter, 
and I'll be mighty glad to see the last of it. S'pose ez haow 
you \yant your paper, don't you? Thay's a good story in it 
this month, 'baout some train robbers out in Missoury. I wuz 
jist thinkin' ez haow if I wuz the cunstable out there, thay 
wouldn't be quite so much lawlessness. When fellers break in 
and steal, they ought to be locked right up. I'd show 'em, 
by gosh ! that the authority of the law musn 't be trifled with. 
S'pose you go right around behind the counter and git it, so's 
I can finish up these here aigs. " 

This was an unusual invitation and indicated much confi- 
dence in Uncle Hez on the part of Lem, so the former pro- 
ceeded to get his monthly bulletin of what was transpiring in 
the outside world. 

Going back to his favorite barrel, from the head of which 
he had discoursed many times upon topics of religion, politics 
and the "future state," he began scanning the pages of his 
paper. 

After a few minutes of unbroken silence, save for an occa- 
sional "Well, I'll be durned I" from Lem, as he discovered an 
embryo White Leghorn in one of Samantha 's "fresh aigs," 
suddenly Uncle Hez laid down his paper, took off his glasses 
and said: "Lem, what's the meanin' of all this here talk in 
the papers 'baout goin' back on the land? Gess mebby it's 
mostly the doin's of them air city folks, but I'll be durned if I 
take to it very much. Looks to me ez if thay might be in bet- 



22 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

ter business than goin' back on the land. I wonder what in 
tarnashun wonld become of 'em if ive waiz to "go back" on the 
land. Some of them air city chaps would be goin' to bed with 
a sort of lonesome feelin' in their stomachs if thay wa'n't 
some one stayin' ivith the land." 

The earnestness of Uncle Ilez and his quaint expression 
caused Lem to break out with such a hearty laugh that he 
dropped an egg on the store floor, thereby losing his profit on 
a dozen. 

" 'Tain't back on the land, Uncle Hez, it's back to the land 
you've been readin' 'baout, instead of goin' back on it. They're 
talkin' of goin' back io it. Don't you see the difference? It's 
funny haow them air things git talked 'baout. I've been read- 
ing of it in all the pai)ers put off here at my postoffice. Seems 
ez haow owin' to the hard times that have been comin' on, some 
big city fellers has been tellin' folks they must stop crowdin' 
into the cities and populate the country more. Then the news- 
papers got to printin' things 'baout it, and now they've got 
folks who've always lived in the city, goin' 'round lookin' for 
farms. Why, tliay's been more'n a dozen out here this month. 
The other day I seen a postal card ez cum for Asy Cummings 
tellin' haow thay'd be a feller up for the inspection of his 
place some time this week. Asy sez he's gittin' too old to farm 
it, and sort of feels like retirin'. He's saved up 'baout fifteen 
hundred dollars and he sez if he could put it out on a six per 
cent mortgage he'd have enough to take care of him ez long ez 
he lives. I s'pose ez haow he's purty lonesome out there since 
he waiz made a widower by the ackshun of Providence. So ez 
fur ez I can see, farmin' lands '11 be looking up in price afore 
long. ' ' 

"So that's it, is it? Well, I'm glad you've sot me right, 
cuz I wuz gittin' sort of riled up at them fellers talkin' against 
the land. I've alius claimed that the land wuz where all the 
wealth of the nashun cum from. Thay ain't anything you can 
think of ez don't, and I've alius been durned proud of the fact 
that I wuz a farmer. I ain't never been daown to New York 
City more'n three times in twenty years, and I ain't goin' agin 
if I can help it. Seems to me them city folks wastes enough 
money in foolish wa^^s to keep a good sized family till dooms- 
day. Thay 're alius tearin' along jist ez if this day wuz the 
last one afore the Angel Gabriel wuz goin' to blow his trumpet. 
Corse our boy Sam thinks it's funny we don't go down to see 
him oftener, but Abby and me' we'd ruther set out under the 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 23 

tree and hear the birds singin' and hsten to the grass growin', 
than be run over by one of them air trolley cars. So we tell 
Sam to cum here and visit us cnz it's cheaper." 

"When we wuz a-visitin' Sam one time, I nster walk out 
in the mornin' and wheel Sam's baby 'baout a mile so's he 
culd git some fresh air. I'd meet more'n tive hundred folks 
'fore I 'd git back. They all acted ez if. they wanted to git to 
a circus afore the last seat was tuk. Thay wa'n't a durned 
one of them ez ever sed ' Good Mornin ' ! ' Now you know, Lem, 
up here in the country we alius say 'Good Mornin' ' or 'How 
d'ye do.' " 

"Well, I sez to a likely lookin' chap one mornin' sez I, 
'Good Mornin'!" He sez, 'Can't place you, stranger, v/ho be 
you?' I sez, 'Jist a feller man, that's all. I'm from the 
country, and we country folks alius sez 'Good Mornin' ' when 
we meet a feller man, cuz we feel ez hao¥?^ the Lord w^ould do 
it if he wuz on earth. I hope ez haow you ain't goin' to be 
offended cuz I sed "good mornin' " without havin' a intry- 
duckshun. ' 

"He looked at me abaout a minit, and a sort of watery 
look come in his eyes. Takin' out his watch and notin' the 
time, he sez: 'Uncle, excuse me for bein' quite so blunt, but 
thay's a heap of truth in what you've been sayin'. Folks here 
seem to think thay ain't got time to breathe ez thay ought to, 
but I bet the time '11 come when thay '11 be more of 'em thinkin' 
'baout the golden rule and less 'baout how to skin their feller 
man. Good-bye, hope I'll see you again. If you'll tell me 
whereabouts you live, mebby you'll hear from me some time.' 
So I give him my postoffice and found out afterwards that he 
wuz one of them air fellers ez writes for papers." 

"About six weeks arter me and Abby got home, I got a 
letter enclosin' this here paper. I alius carry it in my wallet 
cuz I thought it wuz pretty durned good. Didn't I ever show 
it to you, Lem?" 

"No, Uncle Ilez, and it's funny I didn't see it when it cum 
through the postoffice. Read it." 

At this solicitation on the part of Lem, Uncle Hez unwound 
the string from his pigskin wallet, and taking out a well-worn 
piece of paper, read the poem to Lem. 



24 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

And He Alhis Sed: ''Good Mornin'." 

As a bright-eyed farmer philosofer, 

Old Jed Perkins wuz hard to beat, 
With a head ez full of wisdom ez an 

aig is full of meat; 
And if you'd ever see Mm a-comin', 

with his ear-flops a-hangin' daown, 
You'd say, "Here comes the cross 

a-twixt a hayseed and renown." 

Jed wuzn't much on ettyket (never 

had a visitin' card) 
But he knew the ten commandments 

(quote the Bible by the yard) ; 
Allowed ez haow the Almighty surtinly 

knowed a thing or two, 
And to live in the shine uv his love 

divine wuz the only thing to do. 

Jed didn't believe in goin' to meetin' 

without your heart wuz filled with love 
For every human bein' and for the 

Lord ez wuz above. 
Sed. "If folks allowed the flower uv 

love to be blighted by vanity 
They wuz takin' durned long chances 

in the race for eternity. ' ' 

He wuz what you call a graduate from 

Nature's common skule, 
Brought up to measure his feller man 

by the butyful Golden Eule. 
Sed: "If you want to enjoy the confidence 

and love of your feller man, 
Your deeds must be like your linen — 

and your linen spick and span." 

Ev'ry man ez knowed old Jeddy wuz 

a better man, becuz, 
He wuz alius a-wishin' he could be jist 

as Jed Perkins wuz. 
So Jed uster say, in his quiet way, 

"Don't let kindness die abornin'. 
With your head in the air, make your 
silent prayer uv the simple words, . 
'Good Mornin'. " 
"Good Mornin' is a sort of tonic, 
good for all the ills you've got; 
Like the dew ez cums daown from 

Heaven, you can have it ez well ez not. 

Thay ain 't no patent on it, held by 
any man or men, 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 25 



But it's a tool ez you'll have to sharpen 

by a-usin' it now and then." 
'Say it jist ez if you meant it, with 

your voice chuck full of gladness. 
Thay 's a premium for them ez smiles, 

but the world's discountin' sadness. 
Ez a partner for 'Good Mornin', ' just 

smile, deep, long and broad — 
Sort of singin' scintillation uv the 

joyousness of God." 

Well, 'twas 'baout the time that Lee 

surrendered, 'long in the spring of '65, 
Bill Higgins cum home with both legs 

off^poor feller wuz jist alive. 
Bill's mother wuz a widder, and Bill 

her only son, 
"Wuz struck by a shell at Five Forks," 

is the way the story run. 

The legacy Bill's father left wuz a 

mortgage on the place. 
And that mortgage et lines uv sorrow 

in the widder Higgins' face. 
That fall the settlin' time come 'round, 

and the money wuzn 't there. 
The sorrow in the Higgins' home wuz 
joined by deep despair. 

Well, thay say it's alius darkest jist 

afore the light appears. 
And that happiness kin smile through 

the mist of sorrow's tears; 
But uv all the happiness ez ever cum 

to these reservashim diggin 's, 
The brightest ray moved in one day 

on the widder uv William Higgins. 

Thay wa'n't no tinklin' symbols used 

for to let the nabors know 
Ez haow Jed Perkins had cum to town 

and had brought along the dough 
For to pay the Higgins ' mortgage and 

to ease the widder 's mind; 
Oh! no; he didn't make no show, cuz 

Jed Perkins wan't that kind. 

The ole mare stopped at the hitchin' 

post 'fore Jed could holler "Whoa." 
She'd heard the tune he wuz singin', 

and she orter seemed to know 
Ez haow her master's mornin' mission 

had the ring uv a thing sublime- 
Sort uv a smilin', shinin' echo from 

the halo of the Divine. 



26 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

Poor Bill wuz a-settin' out in the yard, 

in the shade uv an elm tree, 
And the widder sat beside him, thinkin' 

uv the mortgagee. 
"Good Mornin', Jed," the widder said, 

"Glad to see you, how d'ye do? ^ 

Better set on the bench over yonder, 

cuz the grass is wet with dew. " 

"Well, the dew to the grass is a heavenly 
blessin'; guess it's good 
for you and me; 
So I'll sit right here in the grass and 

take the place of the mortgagee. 
And if you'll jist count this money over 

so 'a to see that it 's all here, 
I '11 steal daown the street, greet the 

folks I meet, with my early mornin' prayer.'' 

Not a word wuz spoke by either, but 

the look in the widder 's eyes 
Meant a ticket for Jed Perkins to them 

manshuns in the skies; 
And a-lnokin' into the future far ez a 

feller 's allowed to see, 
I'd ruther be in Jed Perkin's boots 

than the boots of that mortgagee. 

So I jist want to say in passin' ez 

haow if you shoiild ever go 
To that place where life is eternal and 

where the waters cease to flow, 
And see on the right of the 

Infanite, a familiar face adornin' 
When the anthems ring and the 

angels sing. Old Jeddy will say "Good Mornin'." 

All the while Uncle Hez was reading the last two verses, Lem 
was poking aAvay at the stove, althongh it still lacked almost 
three hours of the nsnal time for shaking it down for the night. 
Drawing his fore-finger suspiciously close to his nose, he finally 
said, "Uncle Hez, thay's a better sermon in that air piece of 
poetry than Elder Simpson hez preached since he cum here 
most a year ago. You know every word ez he writ 'baout Jed 
Perkins would be gospel truth if applied to you. You've alius 
lived 'bout sich a life, and it kinder makes me 'shamed when I 
think thay ain't more folks jist like you." 

"Oh, I dunno, Lem, thay ain't nothin' 'baout me, 'cept bein' 
a natural man, that's all. If folks would jist he and live what 
they really are, thay'd feel a durned sight better and the world 



The Home That Was BuiU by Hens 27 

would be a better place to live in. Now you see the heart of that 
air city chap waz all rigrht, but I don't s'pose ez haow he'd ever 
tuk time enough to take an inventory of himself and see jist 
what he really wuz. It jist needed that air convershun with me 
in the early morning when his thinking machine w^uz in workin' 
order, to sort uv git him to goin' the right way. Its the same 
with lots uv city folks, I s 'pose. They 're naturally good-hearted, 
but thay let the cobwebs uv indifference clog up the flues uv 
their hearts so thay don't draw good. Then, first thing they 
know, the fires of brotherly feelin' begin to git low, and some- 
times go out altogether. Gess mebby that's haow Jed Perkins 
figgered it out when he sez : 

"Witli your head in the air, make your 

daily prayer, 
Of the simple words, 'Good Mornin'. " 

"So some city feller's comin' 'round lookin' at Asy Cum- 
minscs place, be thay? Well, mebby ez haow 'twould sorter 
stir up things in Kendall's Corners if we wuz to have a few 
folkses movin' in." 

"Why, yes, Uncle Hez," said Lem, "you've alius been a 
strong advocate of the march of progress, and mebby ez haow 
it's goin' to strike. If it does, like as not Toby Williams '11 be 
askin' of it to wait till he's finished a game of quoits so's he kin 
see it go by. Besides, it'll be the means of bringin' you a new 
nabor, and if it does, I hope it won't be some feller ez is alius 
borrowin' your scythe and forgettin' to bring it back home." 

"Let 'em come, Lem, let 'em come. I'll be ready with the 
right hand of fellowship and a full pork barrel if they 're needy. 
My grand-darter Amy wuz sayin' only a few days ago ez haow 
she drempt Kendall's Corners wuz a big village with a fire engine 
and one of them air movin' pictur shows ez folks tells about, 
but I told her I guessed it wuz the result uv her garndma's pan- 
cakes being soggy. Well, I've got to be goin'. It's 'baout time 
to fodder up for the night. So long, Lem. ' ' 

" So long, Uncle Hez. " 








He and Asy Cummings were gathered around the home stake with the game "nine and" 



28 



CHAPTER VI 




RUE to the prophecy of Uncle Hez and his 
observations on Candlemas Day, there was an 
early spring. Lem Huckins found eggs coming 
in freely in exchange for groceries, and Toby 
drove his stakes and pitched his first game of 
quoits on Washington's birthday, something 
unheard of in years. 

While he and Asy Cummings were gathered 
around the home stake with the game "nine 
and," each talking and gesticulating wildly, 
and the station agent measuring to see which 
quoit was nearest to the stake, two well-dressed 
strangers appeared upon the scene and quietly 
stood observing the controversy going on between the contest- 
ants. 

As their presence became noted, the station agent declared 
a tie and that it would be necessary to "pitch it off" to decide 
the winner. The strangers were Ned Campbell and Allison, his 
son. Seeing the men about to proceed with the game, Mr. 
Campbell spoke up, saying, "Can either of you gentlemen 
direct us to the residence of Mr. Asy Cummings ? 

Asy spat on his hands and stooping over to pick up his 
quoits for one last mighty effort, said, "Gess mebby ez haow I 
kin tell you where he lives, but he ain't to hum." 

"AA^ell, perhaps you can tell me where or how I can locate 
him," suggested Mr. Campbell. 

"Well, stranger, if its Asy Cummings you're lookin' for, 
you ain 't got fur to look, cuz I 'm him, but 'tain 't no use tryin ' 
to locate him till he's showed Toby Williams ez haow he's the 
champeen quoit pitcher of Kendall's Corners." 

Seeing that this was the place where if pleasure interfered 
with business, the people gave up business, Mr. Campbell smiled 
and prepared to await the finish of the game. There was con- 
siderable discussion as to who should have the first pitch, but 
it was finally decided in favor of Toby. Measuring the distance 
with the eye of one who appreciated that his title of champion 
was in the balance; Toby dropped one in about four inches from 
the stake. 

29 



30 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

"Gess mebby ez haow you'll know you've been jjitchin' 
quoits if you beat that one, Asy, " said he. 

As Asy's first quoit flew through the air, it struck squarely 
on top of the one Toby had placed so handsomely, and glancing, 
landed several feet from the goal. There was a look of mingled 
disgust and determination on Asa's face, while Toby was wear- 
ing a smile of satisfaction which reached from ear to ear. With 
a confidence that was evident to the onlookers, Toby placed his 
second quoit still nearer the stake, so that scarcely two inches 
separated him from a "hubber. " 

"Asy Cummings, you might jist ez well go 'long and do 
bizness with them gentlemen, cuz you never seen the day you 
could defeat the descendant of Roger AVilliams pitchin' 
quoits," said Toby with a feeling of exultation. 

Asy was clearly affected by the splendid work of Toby and 
the remarks of those standing by. If he lost, he would feel an 
added humiliation by reason of the fact that there were strang- 
ers present. 

Stepping back a pace and standing squarely behind the 
stake, he carefully measured the distance, and swinging his 
arm twice to make sure there were no "kinks," he lifted his 
quoit well up in the air and watched it in its course. True to 
the mark it flew, and in an instant the station agent's voice 
rang out clearly with "A ringer, Asy, it's a ringer. " 

Toby stood for a moment as though rooted to the soil. As 
the full force of the fact that he had been defeated dawned upon 
him, he said, "I've never believed what some folks has said, 
'baout there bein' a millenium, but when it comes to pass that 
a Cummings beats the descendant of Roger Williams, I'll be- 
lieve anything, includin' the story of Joney and the AVhale. 
Thay'll be no more cpioit pitchin' 'raound these parts ontil Town 
Meetin' Day, which '11 be on the fust Tuesday next month. If 
the kind Providence ez keeps watch on 'em ez pitches quoites 
'raound these corners don't cover this mundane speer with 
snow more'n two feet deep, these stakes '11 be set for a champeen 
game betwixt Mr. Tobias Williams, direct descendant of Roger 
Williams, formerly of Salem, Massachusetts, and Mr. Asy Cum- 
mings, the winner today." 

With this proclamation of war and a look of defiance at the 
winner, Toby pulled up his stakes and ringing his four quoits 
upon one of them, went into the blacksmith shop and started 
riviting a wagon tire just for spite. 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 31 

After Asy had received the congratulations of those assem- 
bled, Ned Campbell turned to him and said, "When I left New- 
York this morning-, I little thought I would be treated to such 
an exhibition of skill as you shave shown here, Mr. Cummings, 
and I want to congratulate you." 

"Thay ain't much else a feller can be treated to 'raound 
these corners, 'ceptin' ez you say exhibishuns of skill, unless it's 
'raound harvestin' time. When the mowin' machine is singin', 
or the cradles are swingin' 'baout the fust of August, a feller 
might git treated to a little hard cider, but that's limited as to 
the time and quantity," said Asy. 

"Well, now that we've become acquainted, I will take the 
liberty of telling you the nature of my business," continued 
Mr. Campbell. "I have here a letter of introduction from a 
real estate agent down in New York. He tells me that "Sir. 
Cummings has a small farm of about fifty acres that he is offer- 
ing for sale. As I contemplate moving into the country in the 
near future, I concluded to run up here and look it over. I 
take it you are the gentleman referred to. Am I correct? 

"Reckon ez haow you be," answered Asy, "leastwise thay 
ain't no other Cummings 'raound these corners ez anybody 
knows of. You see I've been livin' here nigh unto forty-one 
years. Polly Ann ez wuz — that waiz my wife's name — departed 
this life 'baout two years ago. Since the partnership broke up, 
it's been kinder lonesome out here on the farm, so I sorter 
made up my mind to sell out and move into the village. Corse 
'tain't more'n a mile, but it's quite a tramp in the winter time 
gettin' up to the store and back. If my boy Hank had stayed 
to home, mebby things would have been different, but now I'm 
gettin' 'long in years, and I kinder thought mebby I'd sell out." 

"In which direction is your farm, ]Mr. Cummings, and may 
we see it?" asked Ned. 

"See it, why, yes, you kin see it from here. It lays right 
up on that rise of ground, right up yonder," answered Asy, 
pointing towards a w^hite painted farm house of good propor- 
tions about three-quarters of a mile from where he was stand- 
ing. "You see, my father built that house jist arter the war, 
when I waiz a youngster. He'd made money in the grocery 
bizness, and thinkin' ez haow he'd like to settle down, he come 
up here and located. I got married and my boy Henry growed 
up and moved away to the city, and I ain't seen him in ten 
years. Polly Ann's gone, and thay ain't much attrackshun 
there any more for me. So a while ago that real estate feller 



32 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

wuz 'raound and I sed I'd sell if the right man came along and 
wanted to bny. Yes, if yon have a noshnn of bnyin' a place 
mebby ez haow you'd better walk 'long np that way and look 
over the ground. Like ez not you won't be very anxious arter 
you've got in closer touch. You know some feller wrote onct 
on a time'baout distance lendin' enchantment to the view, and 
I've sorter found that hoofin' of it for a couple of miles in bad 
goin' sorter takes off the rosy look what them air city chaps 
paint in their advertisin'." 

With this cold douche put upon the prospective purchaser 
of the farm, the trio started up the road, while the villagers 
who had been watching the game had a chance to express their 
views on what the outcome of these "city fellers" visit would be. 

As they neared the farm, Allison ventured to ask the price, 
although the agent told him it would be $1,700. Mr. Cummings 
at once verified this statement and added, "I've sort of got sot 
on the idea of havin' $1,500 out at six per cent. Now if the 
place suits you, and you've got $200 to pay down, why, I'd jist 
ez soon have the mortgage on the old place ez some where else. 
All I care 'baout is enough down so's to bind the bargain." 

It seemed an incredibly short time before they reached the 
house, although the walking was not such as Allison and his 
father were accustomed to. The face of each was glowing with 
the exertion, and each glanced at the other with a look of inter- 
rogation as they took in the general lay of the land. 

The house, an "old settler" and of colonial type, sat upon a 
rise of ground commanding a splendid view of the country for 
miles around. It faced the east with a spacious living-room en- 
^joying a fine southern exposure, and pine, hemlock, maple and 
majestic old elm trees, many of which were a part of the original 
forests, surrounded the ample grounds. The barns and out- 
buildings were of very little account. To the north, about six 
hundred feet from the house, at the foot of the slope leading 
away to the north and east, a stream of water was running along, 
muddy and swollen by the spring thaw, with second growth 
trees of various kinds just as nature had grown them along its 
bank. A wood-lot of goodly proportions extended across the 
westerly end, while fruit trees of all kinds were sparsely scat- 
tered about the buildings. 

Asy was welcomed by a Scotch collie that seemed to look at 
the strangers and then into his master's face with an inquiring 
expression. The water supply was examined and tested. Close 



The Home That Was Buih by Hens 33 

scrutiny was given to the cellar which was found to be perfectly 
dry. The house had been shingled two years before with the 
"best red cedar shingles to be found at the County Seat," as 
Asy said. A coat of paint would be required to properly pre- 
serve the wood, although the appearance was that of a white 
house. While Allison and his father examined every portion of 
the house and premises, Asy stood leaning back against the 
veranda, whittling away at a piece of pine siding. 

As the men from the city rejoined him, he said, half mul^ 
ingly, "No, thay ain't much here any more for me, and I ain't 
got many years left. I'd alius thought ez haow Hank would 
come back some day and mebby git spliced to Uncle Hezzy 
Walter's grand-darter, and then some day thay'd have both 
farms. Uncle Hez's got 'baout a hundred and forty acres and 
with my forty it would be quite a place, but thay's many a slip 
between the cup and lip — ez the old say in' goes — and I gess 
mebby it's so." 

"Well, Mr. Cummings, from the inspection we have made, 
we feel ciuite favorably impressed," said Mr. Campbell. "Of 
course, there are many things necessary to do in order to make 
an old house like this as habitable as city people are accustomed 
to, but those details are things quite easily worked out after all. 
I suppose if we should conclude to purchase, we could get pos- 
session within a reasonable time?" 

"Oh! yes, thay ain't nothin' much for me to move. Corse 
I'd hafter know afore the fust of April, cuz judgin' from the 
looks of things, we're goin' to have an early spring. I'd want 
to be gettin' out the manure on the corn ground, puttin in a few 
oats, and a trimmin' up of the orchard." 

"There would be no question about that, because if the 
weather should keep mild, we might want to come before the 
first of April," said Mr. Campbell. 

"All right, suit yourself. I s'pose you kin do the bizness 
with that air real estate feller, and if thay's any papers to be 
signed, why I kin take 'em afore Squire Hibbard, and he'll fix 
'em up. I'd ask you to stay for supper, but you'll hardly find 
my larder ez well stocked ez it uster be when Polly Ann wuz 
lookin' arter things." 

"Thank you just the same, Mr. Cummings, but we couldn't 
stay as we haven't any too much time before our train goes 
back. If it's necessary to come out again in order to close mat- 
ters up, we'll try to come on Town Meeting Day, so as to see that 
match game of quoits between you and Mr. Williams." 



34 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

The old gentleman laughed heartily at the mention of the 
quoit game, and as he threw away the remnant of his pine 
board and closed up his jack-knife, he said, "Toby alius reminds 
me of a big buff cochin rooster Uncle Ilezzy uster have. I never 
took to chickens much, and jist kept a few hens for aigs in the 
spring. Well, sir, that air cochin alius looked ez if he wuz all 
swelled up with pride cuz he wuz the only rooster on the hun- 
dred and ninety acres. One time Polly Ann got a settin' of aigs 
of Squire Hibbard's wife and hatched out about a dozen. We 
kept one rooster and et the rest. He wuz one of them air white 
leghorns, and the liveliest feller I ever seen. It was 'long in 
the spring of the year and I had sowed some seeds down in the 
garden patch. That air buff cochin comes along down with a 
few hens one day prepared to scratch 'em up. AVell, soon ez 
he'd got onto the patch, he throwed out his chest and announced 
his arrival. From his ackshuns, me and Polly sort of made up 
our minds ez haow thay wuz troul)le brewin', cuz our white leg- 
horn feller heard him and started out investigatin'. Well, to 
make a long story short, ez the feller sez, long ez thay wan't 
another rooster around, Uncle Ilezzy 's buff cochin wuz a big 
feller; but, afore our white leghorn had stopped his hostilities, 
that air big rooster had breathed his last on top of a hill of 
cucumbers I'd planted a few days afore." 

Again laughing heartily, the old gentleman bade good-bye 
to his visitors, twined his fingers in the golden fur of his collie's 
neck, and wended his way to the stable. 

Allison and his father were soon back in the village and 
waiting for the train which was to take them away from their 
future home. 

It was an important session of the Campbell syndicate that 
was held on the evening of Washington's birthday, and the 
hour of midnight had passed before quiet had settled on the 
household. Allison had gone into the details as to the rental 
value of the Cummings' house, based upon the purchase price. 
Seventeen hundred dollars at six per cent meant one hundred 
and two dollars per year. Taxes and insurance were twelve 
dollars per year, making their home cost them for rent just 
about nine dollars per month. 

In other words, based upon an investment of seventeen 
hundred dollars, they would pay nine dollars each month for a 
house in which to live and the use of forty acres of land, thirty 
of which could be profitably cultivated. It was well drained 
land, therefore admirable suited for poultry. This was Alii- 



The Home That Was BuiU by Hens 35 

son's end of the syndicate operations. To all sorts of questions 
he had a ready answer, and to the suggestions frequently made 
that he keep theory well guarded, else practice might prove its 
error, Allison proved his position at every point. The last long 
discussion referred to the financial feature of the enterprise and 
ways and means. Nine hundred dollars — that was all they had. 

"How," asked his mother, "can you ever hope to pull 
through on such an amount?" 

The financier of Chickendom replied, "Mr. Cummings will 
take a mortgage for $1,500, which will then leave us $200 to 
pay in cash. After this is paid, we will own, mind you, mother, 
own a home and have $700 left. One hundred dollars will move 
us, and $300, with what we'll produce, will keep us for one 
year. Give me $300 for a foundation, stock, feed, appliances 
and a start of one year on that forty acres, and I'll never ask 
father for a penny." 

"Well, son," said his father, "I have spent considerable 
money in trying to give you an education. The Agricultural 
School was not my choice. You have selected your field of opera- 
tion. You have had two and one half years of both theory and 
practice. Frankly, I have yearned many a time for just such a 
life as our plan will provide. I have always claimed that there 
is no limit to the possibilities of a man in earnest, and you seem 
to be in earnest. The place suits us; the price is reasonable, 
and every dollar in the bank is subject to the call of the syndi- 
cate. I can see hard sledding ahead for awhile at least, but 
I'm banking on your judgment for better days. See the real 
estate agent in the morning and have him prepare the papers 
for Mr. Cummings' signature so the matter may be closed up 
promptly and may the outcome be all that we have hoped it 
might be. ' ' 

"Good night, dad, and never fear the result. I'm only 
eighteen, but living with you has given me the judgment of 
thirty. My life seems all wrapped up in this enterprise because 
it means so much for all of us. It will mean better health for 
mother, a life of independence and no more hard work for you. 
It may mean something to me besides the happiness that I always 
find in doing for you. Mr. Cummings said his father lived there 
and raised a family. He has lived there and raised his son to 
manhood. It's more than barely possible that other families 
may be born under that old roof and that some of them may 
call you "grandfather." 



CHAPTER VII. 

"Heaven from all its creatures hides tlie book of Fate." 

— Siiakespeare. 

T this time it may not be amiss to consider for 
a moment the part that Fate was playing in the 
^ affairs of the Campbell family. Two and one- 
~ half years before that eventful night when 

Jim Lytle had told Ned Combell that his ser- 
* vices would be no longer required, his only son 

'""*'**"'CC^ . had elected to take a course at the agricultural 
college. It was not his father's choice, and 
seemingly it was by the merest accident that 
J this course was decided upon. 
i In Collier's Weekly an article had appeared 
a" which pointed out the possibilities of life in 
the country. It had been written by a man 
whose knowledge was such as to warrant the acceptance of his 
views as a guide for those having an inclination for agricultural 
pursuits. Not only were the financial returns very remunera- 
tive, but the outdoor employment made for healthful develop- 
ment of mind and body. This, to Allison, seemed a great 
inducement, for, as he argued, what is there in life if good 
health is not enjoyed? The article also portrayed what the 
result would be, when in a few years the great centers of 
industrial activity became so densely populated as to make 
the supplying of food one of the very grave questions of the 
hour. 

But that which appealed most strongly to Allison's youthful, 
but well developed mind, was the element of independence. 
The alarm clock ringing at 6 a. m., the blowing of the whistles at 
seven o'clock, calling the employed to their daily tasks, had 
long seemed to him like a bell of bondage for his father. So 
that when he decided to take his agricultural course, it was 
after mature deliberation. Ned Campbell had laboreed earn- 
estly, honestly and faithfully for his employers. As he entered 
the shop on the morning of December 22nd, the sky of his 
future was unclouded so far as his stay with the company was 
concerned. Without warning and for no cause traceable to any 
act of his, he was suddenly cut off from his source of revenue in 
mid-winter. 

36 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 37 

As he wended his way homeward that Chrismas Eve there 
was not a thought as to what the future would be. Often had 
he indulged in hopes as to what it might be. In this respect 
he found much enjoyment in the apt saying, "AVhere there is 
no hope, there is no endeavor. ' ' With Ned Campbell hope would 
ever find its finest seed-bed, for endeavor was of him a part 
always prominently developed. 

In the discussions which took place in the Campbell home, 
it was a condition that confronted them. The requirements of 
the every-day existence in a great city made labor necessary. 
Something must be done. Through the days that intervened 
from Christmas week to the day in February when he had 
visited Kendall's Corners, many and varied had been the sug- 
gestions coming to his mind. Mingled ever with these was the 
picture presented by the enthusiasm of Allison and the remem- 
brance of his own earlier life on the farm. 

Returning to New York on the train, and all the evening 
after the arrival, he seemed possessed of a feeling of content- 
ment which he had not experienced since his dismissal from 
service nearly two mouths before. After his talk with Allison 
and the suggestions as to what might happen under the roof 
of the old Cummings' house in the future, he was indeed in a 
happy frame of mind. Even in this regard, had he but known 
it, the Fates were again at work spinning a web for the future. 

The next morning at breakfast, the subject was again fully 
canvassed. JMother willingly acquiesced in every plan made, 
entering heartily into the enthusiastic castle-building indulged 
in by Allison. 

"It would be too bad to spoil any of those fanciful dreams 
of youth," she said to her husliand, "besides, when you take 
away the rainbow hues of imagination, you administer a seda- 
tive to human endeavor." 

Scarcely was the morning over before father and son 
started for the office of the real estate agent. Instructions were 
given exactly as outlined by Mr. Cummings. The purchase 
price was to be $1,700, a purchase money mortgage was to be 
given back for $1,500, with a down payment of $200. The in- 
surance, which had two years to run, was to be transferred 
and title given to Mr. Edward Campbell and Mary Campbell, 
his wife, as "tenants by the entirety." In case of the death of 
either, the title would vest in the survivor, and finally their 
only heir at law, Allison Campbell. Possession was requested 
for March 15th. The real estate agent required a down pay- 



38 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

ment of $50, which was drawn from the bank account, the bal- 
ance of $150 to be paid when the papers were passed and 
possession given. 

Contrary to what might reasonably have been expected, 
there was not a single expression of regret from any member 
of the syndicate as they prepared for their departure from the 
city. Indeed, a sense of restfulness had made itself apparent 
in the countenance of each as the packing of the household 
goods progressed and the day for moving drew nearer. There 
was no thought of being lonesome. Such an idea had been sug- 
gested, but it was at once scouted as out of the question. They 
had each other, and then there was work to do. There was the 
necessity for production, and as some one said, "A people 
never fairly begin to prosper until necessity is treading on 
their heels." With only $600 left in the bank after paying 
moving expenses, "necessity" was indeed "treading on their 
heels." Here was a situation where there must needs be alert- 
ness for today and apprehension for the future. A portion of 
every day was spent by Allison in going over his note books 
and the bulletins of the experimental stations which he had 
collected and which appertained to the raising of poultry. 

Every day, as the sun mounted higher in the heavens, its 
warmth soon became apparent in the fields and upon the trees, 
while anxiety filled the hearts of the inexperienced trio for the 
moving day to come. The papers had been sent to Mr. Cum- 
mings. They had been signed and acknowledged before Squire 
Hibbard according to schedule, and the Squire had taken them 
to the county seat and had them recorded. 

In the meantime, Kendall's Corners had been the center of 
much excitement. Town Meeting Day had come and gone. Lem 
Huckins had been once more "elected constable," and once 
more Asy Cummings downed Toby Williams pitching quoits. 
Several sessions of the Kendall's Corners Social Club had been 
held at Lem's store to discuss the sale of Asy's farm, and the 
further fact that he had gone in with Lem Huckins as a part- 
ner in the grocery business. The defeat of Toby was a much 
discussed matter. When the last quoit had been pitched in the 
championship game, and Asy was declared the winner, Toby 
was a changed man. As he slowly pulled up the stakes and 
quoits, he handed both stakes and quoits to Asy, and said, 
"Ase, I've alius allowed ez haow blood would tell, but it don't 
seem to apply in this here game. Now, pitchin' hez alius been 
my long suit, and bizness didn't count much when thay was 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 39 

any pitchin' goin' on. If I'd paid ez much attenshun to 
shoein' horses and settin' tires ez I have to tryin' to make a 
champeen of myself, why mebby I'd have a farm to sell to 
some city feller. I guess mebby 'tain't too late now, so from 
this time on, instead of pitchin' quoits half a day fer a paper 
of terbaccer, why I'll tend to bizness and buy my terbaccer. " 
That was Toby's last game, and true to his word, the anvil has 
been ringing merrily every day since. 

After Asy had found that the farm had really been sold, 
he lost no time in making the fact known to Uncle Hez and 
Lem Huckins. Where he was to go was a much mooted ques- 
tion, until one day Uncle Hez suggested that he and Lem 
ought to join forces and enlarge the store. 

''You see, Lem," said Uncle Hez, "if you only had a pard- 
ner, you could git out in the summer and put a wagon on the 
road. I seen ez haow the feller ez runs a grocery daown to 
the county seat alius runs a wagon in the summer and swops 
groceries for aigs and butter. You're right handy to the rail- 
road, and I'll bet you'd make money sendin' 'em to the city." 

This opened up a new field for Lem heretofore unthought 
of, and he was ready for it. Asy was just as interested in 
securing a home for himself and was also pleased to have some 
"chorin' " to do. Thus it was that the Cummings' house was 
vacated on the 10th of March and ready for the occupancy of 
its new owners. 




'Right up yonder on the hill is your place.' 



40 



CHAPTER VII. 




'HE lltli day of March witnessed the placing of 
the Campbell's personal belongings in the car 
ready for transportation. The 12th and 13th 
the family was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Jim 
Lytle. The morning of the 14th three tickets 
were purchased for Kendall's Corners, and the 
local train deposited the Campbell trio at the 
station at 10 :4:5 A. M. The date of their ar- 
rival had been communicated to Asy, and as 
the train pulled out of the station, he and 
Uncle Hez were there to greet the new-comers. 
Asy introduced them to Uncle Hez, and after 
the exchange of friendly greetings, Uncle Hez said, "Mr. 
Campbell, you'll find we're regular country folks up here, but 
such ez ^ve've got you kin have. Thinkin' ez liaow the walkin' 
wouldn't be fust class for your wife, I've brought daown the 
democrat wagon to take you folks up to your new abode, ]\Iy 
granddarter wuz sayin' ez haow you'd be sorter up-sot settlin', 
and Ave 're expectin' ez haow you'll make yourselves at home 
with us till you've got your beds up and your carpets down." 
"Well, that's surely very kind of you, Mr. Walters," said 
Mrs. Campbell. "We were not expecting such a welcome from 
the neighbors. I presume it's because we don't get those things 
in the city, that we don't expect them in the country. It's 
fully appreciated I assure you, and very thoughtful of you." 
As she finished speaking, Allison suggested that his father 
and mother proceed while he presented his bill of lading and 
arranged for some one to take the things up to the farm. This 
plan having been decided upon, Uncle Hez started off with 
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell while the junior member of the family 
"got busy." 

As they drove along. Uncle Hez turned part way around in 
his seat, and addressing Mrs. Campbell, said, "I s'pose ez haow 
folks in the city don't git time to think 'baout their neighbors, 
do they? You see out here we sorter keep in touch with 
Nature and grow up accordin' to Nature's ways. When you're 
livin' that way, folks don't git riled up over trifles and there's 
something 'baout it ez takes away worry. Every time I look 

41 



42 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

at the sky, the flowers or the trees, it makes me ashamed of 
gettin' mad, and makes me wish I could do something for some- 
body. Onct on a time our hired man took the lookin' glass and 
hung it on the side of the wood-shed while he was shavin'. The 
sun was shinin', and that air lookin' glass was throwin' a re- 
fleckshun on to the hoss barn door right where I was standin'. 
Now, while I was standin' there in the shade, I could feel the 
warmth of the sun from the refleckshun. It's a good deal so 
with Nature. She sorter seems to be alius reflectin' the good- 
ness of the Almighty and warmin' up the hearts of folks if 
thay'll only stand so's the refleckshun can hit 'em. When 
we've been visitin' my boy Sam in New York City, I've sorter 
thought ez haow city folks didn't stand still in one spot long 
enough so's the refleckshun could hit 'em, even if 'twas there." 

Without waiting for a reply to his philosophical soliloquy, 
he went on, "You see this place we're comin' to, Mrs. Camp- 
bell? That's the old Walter's homestead where I was born and 
brought up. Right up yonder on the hill is your place. Asy's 
father built that house soon arter my father located here, so 
you see we're old settlers. 'S'pose ez haow you'd like to drive 
right up and look things over afore dinner. It'll be some time 
afore the boy gits his fust load up, I guess." 

''Yes, Mr. Walters, you know a woman's curiosity is a won- 
derful thing. I heard Mr. Campbell and Allison tell all about 
it, but a description may or may not do justice to the object 
described, just according as the one giving it is normal or over 
enthusiastic. So I am exceedingly anxious to see for myself." 

Scarcely had she finished speaking, when Uncle Hez reined 
the horses to the left and turned into the driveway leading 
up to what was now the Campbell mansion. 

During the trip up from the station, Mr. Campbell had 
taken no part in the conversation. He had mentally made note 
of the fact that the three wrecks of approaching spring since 
the first visit had already made the place more inviting. 

Before alighting, IMrs. Campbell turned and looked off for 
miles across the fields and forests, already bursting forth with 
a suggestion of new life. A smile came upon her face, and 
seemingly drinking in its beauty and comparing it with the 
congestion of paved streets and huddled habitations of city life, 
she said, "Edward, isn't this beautiful! I feel better already, 
but come, let us go into the house." 

Uncle Hez hitched his team of bays and joined in the in- 
spection. There was little for him to inspect. He knew every 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 43 

nook and corner. The thoughtfulness on the part of Asy that 
had brought Uncle Hez to the station with the family surrey 
had kept the "chunk stove goin' so's to take the chill off and 
keep things from gettin' damp." The inside of the house was 
warm and comfortable, reflecting the warm-heartedness of the 
man who had so kindly provided for the comfort of the 
Campbells. 

As they finished their inspection and walked out onto tho 
veranda for one more look over the fields, a wagon was seen 
approaching with the first load. It was now near dinner time, 
and as the wagon of household goods with Allison perched on 
the tailboard, hanging onto the leg of the dining-table, came 
to a halt, the blowing of the horn from the direction of the 
Walters' homestead told all that it was time to "wash up for 
the noon-day meal." 

"These," said Allison, "can be unpacked while we are going 
back for the kitchen range and other articles, and if you don't 
mind, this gentleman who has kindly consented to do the haul- 
ing for us, will wait for feeding up until we get the range 
set up." 

Supper that night was served in the Campbell home, and 
Sunday, the 17th, with the help received from Uncle Hez and 
his grand-daughter, found the Cami^bells in much more com- 
fortable shape than one would imagine. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



BABY CHICKS OF QUABITY 
To Introduce, and make poultry keepers appreciate the quality of our offerings, we 
will sell 1,000 of our fine S. C. White Leghorn baby chicks three weeks old, for 25c each. 
First come, first served. 

ROCK VALLEY POULTRY FARM 
Safe Arrival Guaranteed 




k-HOSE were trying times that marked the first 
few weeks after the arrival of the Campbells 
|B at Kendall's Corners. Muscles that had been 
j^ little used while Allison was at school, found a 
nevf strain put upon them in the work of put- 
ting theorj^ into practice. "Dad" Campbell 
was learning fast, and even before a fortnight 
had passed, the tonic of that pure spring air 
and real country life had made itself felt in 
the improved condition of Mrs. Campbell. 
Every lesson was really a new one because so 
many years had intervened since the days 
which marked their earlier recollections of life 
with the land, and these days when they Avere back again as an 
actuality. But how happy they all were in learning. It would 
make most interesting reading were we to detail the experi- 
ences of this whole family, but as we are concerned only with 
those events which are properly a part of the story, we must 
confine ourselves to those, lest our current of thought be lost 
in the whirlpool of conflicting and ludicrous situations. 

Al Campbell was, as Uncle Hez often remarked, "the busi- 
est man out of jail." How to get his poultry venture started 
the first spring and thereby avoid the delay of a whole year, 
was a problem which had caused much thought and anxiety. 
The advertisement found at the beginning of this chapter ap- 
peared in the April number of a prominent poultry magazine, 
for which Allison had subscribed the month before. 

Here was something that seemed to solve the problem of a 
"start." Reading the columns of the poultry magazines one 
evening after a hard day's work, his eye had alighted upon 
this bargain sale, and he was at once interested. As he read, 
the thought occurred to him that perhaps if he were to take 
five hundred chicks, the price might be shaded a trifle. With 

44 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 45 




I'hc- olil hhed was ii'iii. ulclivl iiiloa liiooder lioiise. 

this in mind, an offer was mailed at once for $100 for the five 
hundred chicks. Promptly came a reply accepting his proposi- 
tion. The following day a remittance was made, covering the 
purchase price, and immediately he began preparations for 
their care upon their arrival. 

The old shed, twelve feet wide and forty feet long, facing 
the south into the orchard, was remodeled into a brooder house 
for the chicks. The floor was covered with chaff from the old 
hay loft to a depth of eight inches. The shed was divided into 
eight pens each five feet wide, and a window put in the south 
side of each pen. AVhat should be done for brooders? Allison 
did not wish to go to the expense of lamp heated brooders. The 
weather was unusually warm for that season of the year. An 
old oil stove had been brought from the city. In the event of a 
cold snap, this oil stove could be brought into play to increase 
the temperature inside the shed, so Allison decided to try the 
"fireless brooders" often spoke of by the lecturers at college. 

A trip to the store of Lem Huckins with old Peter and the 
democratic wagon, solved the problem of brooders. Back to 
the farm came eight goodly sized soap boxes. It was the work 



46 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

of half a day to transform these boxes into tireless brooders. 
Pieces of burlap which had been wrapped around the furniture 
were cut into strips and fitted inside of the boxes so that the 
burlap would rest lightly on the backs of the little fellows when 
huddled together inside. Feed was procured from the mill, 
and when on Saturday morning the youngsters arrived at their 
new home, everything was in readiness for their reception. 

What husky, hungry chicks they were ! In less than twenty 
minutes after they had been divided up into flocks of sixty- 
five to seventy for each pen, the air was filled with dust kicked 
up by the activity of those five hundred chicks looking for a 
breakfast. They had been fed a liberal quantity of grain 
thrown into the clover chaff, and it didn't take them long to 
learn where to look for it. 

And so, within thirty days after the Campbells had taken 
up their abode where the morning sunshine is not filtered 
through the smoke and dirt of commercial activities, the poul- 
try venture had been really launched. With what exactness 
did Allison follow the teachings of the agricultural school, and 
how well did they serve him at this time. The chicks at the 
price paid were a decided bargain. They had passed the age 
when those dreaded diseases of young chicks make sad inroads 
upon numbers, and as the days passed, they seemed to thrive 
surprisingly. As Dad watched the younger member care for 
his flocks from day to day, he took lessons. He was taught that 
wholesome food and pure water were essentials to chick health; 
that activity was also conducive to growth, health and develop- 
ment; and he further saw demonstrated the fact that when the 
outside temperature was upwards of sixty degrees, lamp- 
heated brooders were not required in order to care for little 
chicks. In fact, they seemed to thrive better in their little box 
hovers than if confined under one artificially heated. The days 
sped by. Garden making, cleaning up around the house, and 
the care of those five hundred "bread winners" — as Allison 
called his chicks — kept everyone busy. Evening was the time 
for family consultations, and every Saturday night the finances 
of the family were fully considered. 

July 4th witnessed an embryo celebration of the anniver- 
sary of American Independence, in which Uncle Hez and Amy 
joined. Lunch was spread out under the shade of the elms. 
Amy donated a plentiful supply of lemonade, and Uncle Hez 
exhibited a musket carried by one of his ancestors on that 
memorable 19th day of April, 1775, when that little band of 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 47 

Revolutionary patriots met the British redcoats on the Com- 
mons at Lexington, Mass. Allison recited "The Ride of Paul 
Revere," and Dad contributed by reading "Grandmother's 
Tale of the Battle of Bunker Hill.'"' 

When evening came, Allison announced his intention of 
taking an inventory and of separating the young pullets of his 
flock from the young male birds. The senior Campbell was 
pressed into service, and a visit to the old shed which had long 
since been converted into a colony house by the removal of the 
box hovers and the installation of roosts was made. The in- 
ventory Avas completed just as darkness settled over the earth, 
and it showed two hundred seventy-six well developed pullets 
and two hundred and three cockerels, a loss of twenty-one from 
the original purchase of five hundred. 

"When the fireworks provided for the evening were disposed 
of and pleasant good-nights exchanged, Uncle Hez and Amy 
returned to their home and the Campbells went into "executive 
session. ' ' 

The following day the young cockerels were removed to a 
part of the old barn, and the pullets given full and compelte 
possession of the whole shed. A trip to the mill was made and 
an especially prepared food brought back, which was to be used 
in putting the "finish" on the cockerels preparatory to sending 
them to market. 

It was on the evening of the 18th day of July that Allison 
said to his father, "Dad, this concern needs the service of a 
traveling salesman. Your first trip ought to be New York, and 
just how good you are at getting orders can be determined on 
your first trip. There are about two hundred choice roasters 
out there, weighing approximately two and one-half to three 
pounds each. Some large hotel down in the city would like 
these fellows at a good price, because they are in prime condi- 
tion. Now let's see if you can make good. If you do, perhaps 
the syndicate will give you a job later on." 

"Very well," said Dad Campbell, "I'll consider myself 
employee! and my first trip will be tomorrow." 

The following day at noon found the senior Campbell in 
consultation with the steward of the Hotel Manhattan. He 
was one of those gentlemen "from Missouri" that had to be 
shown, and the only thing he would say about the price was, 
"It all depends on quality. If they are choice, we can use 
two thousand as well as two hundred, and they are worth 
$1.50 per pair. That's the top figure. If they are like the 



48 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 




This house was built in the orchard on a slifrht rise of ground, 

g-eneral run, $1.00 a pair is all you can hope to get for them. 
Send me two dozen pairs, and I will make remittance in keep- 
ing wath the quality of your product." 

This was not as satisfactory a result as Ned Campbell had 
expected, but it was the best he could do. 

Upon his return home, Allison was delighted, because as 
he said, ''That steward will find our roasters the finest he has 
bought this season. For the past two weeks they have been 
getting a special fattening food, suggested by the department 
experts, and they are certainly a fine lot." 

Returns from the shipment proved that he was right. A 
letter with the remittance said, "We will take all you can pro- 
duce like these and pay for them the very top price." This 
sale brought $155.00, which paid for the five hundred baby 
chicks and all the feed required to carry the pullets to Sep- 
tember 1st. 

Hence on September 1st the Campbell firm would have two 
hundred ninety-six pullets — less any loss — that would have 
cost them nothing but the care from the time they were three 
weeks old. 

September 1st found prepared for the winter quarters of 
the two hundred and ninety-six white leghorn pullets, a snug, 
open-front poultry house, built according to the latest approved 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 49 

methods of the Agricultural College where "Al" Campbell 
had become so well grounded in the theory of poultry culture. 
This house was built in the orchard on a slight rise of ground 
and with a gradual slope to the south and east. It was of the 
open air type, sixty feet in length and fourteen feet wide, 
divided into three pens, twenty by fourteen feet, in each of 
which were placed ninety-five of the pullets. This provided 
two hundred and eighty square feet of floor space for each 
ninety-five fowl, or approximately three square feet for each 
one. The floor consisted of twelve inches of fine gravel upon 
which was placed, as soon as cold weather came, a goodly sup- 
ply of bright oat straw to the depth of eight to ten inches. 

Just before October 1st, the pullets were brought in from 
their colony houses and placed in winter quarters, Allison 
had been taught that pullets kept and depended upon for 
winter laying, should be put into their winter quarters and 
started laying before very cold weather set in, and his efforts 
were directed towards carrying this plan into effect. To do 
this, he adopted the theory of the Maine Agricultural College, 
together with its formulas for feeding. The first day after 
the pullets were brought into the new house, the whole Camp- 
bell syndicate spent most of their time admiring the white 
beauties, upon whose performance as layers of big, white eggs 
so much depended, and upon which they had pinned their faith. 

"Never count your chickens before they are hatched," is 
a saying fully realized by all, and yet they found themselves 
counting the eggs they would surely get long before the first 
one had been laid. 




r ' CHAPTER IX. 

ELIEVING that my readers would much prefer 
to learn what the result of the Campbell ex- 
periment was before being told how it was ac- 
complished, I shall defer giving details, formu- 
las, building plans, etc., until this romance of 
real life in the country is brought to a close. 
As the days of Autumn began to grow 
shorter, more of the evenings were spent with- 
in doors, and frequently w4th the genial glow 
of the fireplace shedding its friendly warmth 

. - - :. 1 i as an accompaniment to the laughter of love 

that was ever present in the Campbell home. 
Very often of late, Al had suddenly looked 
up from his work of earing for his pullets, to find the face of 
Uncle Hez's granddaughter smiling at him Avith the merry 
twinkle of her brown eyes, saying more than words could pos- 
sibly say; and, while Al was all devotion to his work, he was 
obliged to confess at times that Amy's sweet manner had left 
him in a state of mental confusion, such as made him think 
twice as to whether or not he had filled up the feed hopper in 
the third pen. 

To help Al over his confused state, Amy would profess a 
deep interest in the chickens and ask all sorts of foolish ques- 
tions just to get Al started in conversation and help him hide 
the blushes of which he was always so frightfully conscious. 

For instance, upon one occasion she had the younger mem- 
ber of the Campbell syndicate in a terrible state of mind trying 
to formulate an answer to her inquiry, "Al, w^hy is it that 
colored people are so very fond of poultry? Now you surely 
were taught that at the experimental station, were you not?" 
Al was obliged to admit that the subject was not down in the 
regular curriculum, and further, that his experience had never 
shown w^hat the answer should be. 

Turning to Amy, he said, "Well, Miss "Wise, I'm afraid I'll 
have to give up your conundrum. I'm sure I know of no 
reason why colored people should be so very fond of poultry. 
Why is it?" 

"Why, Al, how very stupid of you, — a supposed expert in 
poultry, and yet can't answer so simple a question. Colored 

50 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 51 

people love poultry for the same reason th?+ white folks do, 
because they're such awful good eating." 

The brown October days had been more than usually filled 
with sunshine, and Hallow-e'en at last arrived, Al and Amy 
had planned a little party for the evening, with the old-fash- 
ioned games and with the jack-o-lan terns made from big, yellow 
pumpkins, grown on the fiats down by the creek. A few of the 
neighbors had been invited and among them a special invita- 
tion was sent to Asy Cummings, the former owner of the 
Campbell home. Toby, Lem, and in fact nearly all of the 
people around the Corners had been asked to join in drinking 
new cider and eating doughnuts for the making of which Uncle 
Hez's grand-daughter was truly famous. 

As the shadows began to fall, the guests commenced to ar- 
rive. They found true hospitality speaking from everj^ angle. 
If any of them had ever harbored the impression that folks 
from the city were "sorter stuck up," that impression was in- 
stantly dismissed, as they w^ere warmly greeted by their city 
folks neighbors. 

Uncle Hez was at his very best. This was an event that took 
him back to his boyhood days many years ago, and he watched 
with his keen old eyes ablaze with admiration little Amy radi- 
ant in her spotless white gown of muslin. As she had planned 
for the occasion, she became conscious of the fact that she 
wanted it to be especially nice "just on Al's account." Of 
course she couldn't have told you why, but she just did. It was 
no doubt her very strong desire in this regard, and the satis- 
faction of seeing the event take on such a happy atmosphere 
that heightened the color in her cheeks and made her look the 
really beautiful girl she was. 

It was Amy 's duty to stand by Mrs. Campbell and introduce 
the villagers as they came into the large, cheerful living-room, 
where the entertainment features were to take place. 

Toby Williams was a little bashful at first, but after ]\Irs. 
Campbell had told him of how her husband had spoken so highly 
of his dexterity in pitching quoits, Toby began to take on his 
usual mantle of personal importance and warmed up to the 
occasion nicely. 

Lem Huckins had on a new standing collar and a pair of 
patent leather shoes bought especially for, the occasion. 

After stopping to receive the kindly greetings of Mrs. Camp- 
bell and Amy, Lem had passed over near the fireplace where 
the men were congregated discussing the location of the new 



52 The Home. That Was BuiU by Hens 

railroad shops which promised to make Kendall's Corners a 
more important name on the time tables. 

"Uncle Hezzy," said Lem, "I noticed that you got a letter 
from some feller daown in New York City this morning. I 
hain't seen his letter head afore, and I wuz wonderin' what 
you'd been writin' him 'baout." 

"Oh! nothin' pertickler, Lem, only he'd advertised sump- 
thin' ez wuz sure to kill off pertater bugs, so I thought ez haow 
I'd write daown and git it." 

"Well, did you?" asked Lem. 

"Yes, I got his receet all right," answered Uncle Hez, 
smiling. "I guess it would do the bizness sure enough too." 

"Is that so? S'pose even if it did cost you two dollars, you 
don't mind telling us the secret, do you. Uncle Ilez?" 

"Oh! no, Lem, tliay ain't much secret 'baout it. The feller 
writ back and sed ez haow I better stop raisin' pertaters for a 
year or two, and then the bugs would all starve to death." 

The laugh, of course, was on Lem, and Uncle Hez at last felt 
well repaid for the investment. 

When the laughter was at its height, Asy Cummings, former 
owner of the Campbell home, appeared, and with him, one who 
was a stranger to Kendall's Corners. It was none other than his 
son Henry, who had not been heard from for more than ten 
years. 

As Amy's eyes gazed upon the features of the man, who as 
a boy had drawn her to school on his sled and helped her with 
her examples in arithmetic, she gave an involuntary shudder 
and the color left her cheeks. Ten years in the city had trans- 
formed Henry Cummings so that even his father was not sure 
it was the boy he had fondly hoped would some day till the 
Walters' farm as the husband of little Amy. The checkered 
suit of clothes and the red necktie told of an environment 
wholly alien to the peaceful homelike surroundings in which he 
found himself. Asy, his father, showed his consciousness of 
Hank's being out of his sphere, by his apologetic remarks about 
"bringin' some one along ez wuzn't invited." It did not take 
long for Amy to regain her composure, and out of a sympathetic 
regard for ]\Ir. Cummings, every one joined in extending a 
hearty welcome to the stranger who had come back so unex- 
pectedly. 

Lem started the laughter once more by telling how "Toby 
Williams wuz alius takin' 'tother side of any argument ez wuz 
started down at the store." 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 53 

"Why, Toby," said Lem, "You alius remhid me of a mince 
pie when you git talkin' 'cuz you never agree with any one." 

"Well, I notice folks eats 'em jist the same," answered 
Toby, "whether they agrees with 'em or not." 

And so the evening wore on. The splendid things prepared 
for supper were eaten with a relish. Recitations and songs 
added to the enjoyment of the villagers until ten o'clock, when 
each guest took his departure with added feelings of neighborly 
kindness for the whole Campbell family. 

Mr. Cummings and Henry stayed a little later than the 
other guests, to note the improvements made in the old home, 
and to keep Uncle Hez and Amy company going home. 

As Henry Cummings had watched Amy Walters on this 
Hallow-e'en occasion and had listened to her rendition of the 
sweet old-time ballads, the finer sentiments of his earlier life 
were found battling with those coarser qualities developed by 
his environment during the years of his city life. He found 
himself thinking how good it would seem to be once again at 
home among real friends and neighbors. He found his thoughts 
again concerned with better things, and he dared even dream 
once more of his boyhood love for Amy. What was said by 
either himself or Amy Walters on that evening as they left the 
Campbell home, will never be known. 

Two days later the train for New York carried the only son 
of Asy Cummings back to the city, that great whirlpool of social 
disorders, and he returned again to his old haunts where the 
bright lights of hellish hallucinations are ever trying to blind 
the eyes of God's human beings. 




'I've found some eggs, I've found some eggs.' 



54 



CHAPTER X. 




|T was one of those warm, hazy days that some- 
times come in early November, and Dad Camp- 
bell had just returned from a trip to New 
York where he had gone to see his former 
friend, Jim Lytle, and to advise with him up- 
on some contemplated change in his business 
affairs. 

They were all partaking of the noonday 
meal, when they were startled by hearing the 
voice of Amy coming from towards the hen 
house, saying, ''I've found some eggs, I've 
found some eggs. Oh! Goody, I've found 
some eggs." 

Allison halted a small cargo of mashed potatoes M^hich was 
on its way towards his hungry face, and bolted for the door. 

Sure enough, there was Amy, all excitement, with a full half 
dozen white eggs nestling in her apron. Al was no less elated 
than Amy, because this was the moment he had long looked 
forward to when his pullets should begin to shell out their valu- 
able fruit. 

From that day on there was a steady increase in the daily 
production, until Thanksgiving Day found thirty dozen ship- 
ments being made once or twice a week. The same hotel that 
had been so anxious to secure their shipment of broilers, was 
equallj^ eager to get their fresh eggs, because the quality was 
of the very best. 

During the winter, feed formulas were carefully prepared 
and just as carefully followed. Cleanliness in the hen house 
was put down as one of the daily essentials to insure success. 
Dad Campbell through the constant reading of the poultry 
papers which came regularly to the Campbell household, became 
quite an expert poultryman. The crops of the season had all 
been harvested in proper time. The cellar was well stored Avith 
potatoes, cabbages, squashes, etc., while four nice hams added 
to the well filled pork barrel, insured an adequate supply of 
meat. 

The Jersey cow, loaned to the family by Uncle Hez, gave an 
abundance of milk with which to supply the family needs and 
furnish good, rich cream for table use. Eggs, fine, fresh ones, 

55 



56 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

were a part of the daily diet, and healthful food and surround- 
ings had stamped an unmistakable sign of health upon the 
countenance of each. Mrs. Campbell had never been so well, 
and as contentment so largely depends upon good health, the 
Campbell family was one wherein health and contentment joined 
hands with happiness and where each took up its abode. As 
Al often said, "Oxygen is as essential to life as food, therefore 
while there is so much of this life-giving element to be had free 
of charge, it's everybody's duty to get all they can." 

The month of December with its Holiday festivity came, and 
there was many a mental review of the Xmas of the year be- 
fore, when the senior Campbell had said good-bye to city life, 
with Hope before him as the only sunbeam by which to guide 
his future. January, February and IMarch passed with the 
white beauties doing their full share to bring success to the 
Campbell venture. The sales for the four months of Winter 
had brought into the syndicate treasury the tidy sum of $574.50, 
leaving a net profit after paying for feed, of $455.90, or more 
than $100 per month in payment for the labor expended in 
their care. Was this not ample pay for a work of love, where 
Allison Campbell was his own boss, and was building a secure 
foundation for his future? Are there not thousands of men 
today whose lungs crave the fresh air of the country, and whose 
children are being morally, mentally and physically stunted for 
the want of proper nourishment and healthful surroundings? 
Will this story not be to them like a ray of sunshine from out 
of a dark sky, and will it not be to them a message of uplift, 
comfort and encouragement? We believe it will, and if it is, 
our labor in its preparation will be fully paid. 

One day in early March, Allison said to his father, "Dad, 
our commercial egg farm promises to be a splendid success. 
There is, however, another branch of the business I propose to 
turn over to you, and that is the breeding of standard bred 
fowl. I am fully convinced that with the Standard for your 
guide, with your natural ability, and the knowledge you have 
obtained of a practical kind this winter, you ought to be able 
to handle this branch of the industry nicely." 

"That suits me to perfection," replied the senior Campbell, 
"and the sooner I can become a full fledged fancier, the better. 
I suppose I must leave the details to you as to the selection of a 
breed, etc., but if it's just the same to you, I prefer to take up 
the breeding of those big, beautiful birds known as White 
Plymouth Rocks." 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 57 

''No better selection could be made, Dad, and I'll attend to 
the details at once," replied Allison. 

From the proceeds of the sale of eggs that Spring, incuba- 
tors were bought and $60.00 expended in building an inexpen- 
sive brooder house. Right here we wish to say that one of the 
secrets of success in the Campbell poultry business was the use 
of inexpensive houses and appliances — home-made brood coops, 
home-made colony houses, and simplicity in all things. Another 
secret in our opinion was the adoption of the rule not to hatch 
out a single chick before the 10th of April. Then they can be 
cared for in the small home-made brooders at less expense, and 
the losses are much smaller. In other words, it is the natural 
hatching season, and the growth from that time on is very rapid. 
July 4th an inventory of stock on hand showed as follows: 

282 Leghorn hens (yearlings) at $ 0.75 each $ 212.00 

1210 Leghorn chicks at .50 each 605.00 

340 White Plymouth Rock chicks at .50 each 170.00 

3 Incubators at 25.00 each 75,00 

15 Male birds at 1.00 each 15.00 

$1077.00 

The profits from the White Leghorns up to this time had 
paid all expenses of eggs for hatching, purchased incubators, 
brooder and colony houses, bought a supply of food, enough to 
last until September 1st, and left a surplus of $483.90 besides 
the value of the eggs used by the family. 

These Spring months had been filled with one continual 
round of healthful activity. The crops had to be put in and 
the garden made, besides taking care of the incubators and 
young chicks. But how glorious was the promise of success ! 

When Autumn had again come, with its crisp air and 
mantle of brown, it found a family, than whom a happier one 
the sun in all its course did not shine upon. Each of the male 
members of the family strongly observed the rules of business 
learned in the city, and applied themselves eight hours each 
day to "doing something." October 1st inventory gave the 
following flattering account of assets, and their value was fairly 
and reasonably stated : 



58 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

CAMPBELL & COMPANY, 

BREEDERS OP HIGH-CLASS POULTRY. 

From Commencement of Business to Oct. 1st of following 
year : 

DEBIT. 

To purchase of 500 baby chicks $100.00 

Paid for feed, etc 362.20 

Paid for incubators 75.00 

Paid for oil for incubators 9.80 

Paid for male birds for breeders 15.00 

Paid for W. E. eggs for hatching 60.00 

Incidental expenditures 23.75 

Total $6i5.75 

CREDIT. 

By cash sale of 2,90-i doz. eggs at 3Sc (average) $1,103.52 

(This included eggs used for hatching.) 

By cash sale of broilers 322.46 

By cash sale of 274 old hens at 50c each 137.00 

On hand 12 old male birds for breeders 15.00 

On hand 238 Young Leghorn males at 50c 119.00 

On hand 540 Young Leghorn pullets at $1.00 540.00 

On hand 190 White Rock, male and female 297.50 

(165 females and 25 males.) 

On hand 2 Incubators, value $30.00 each 60.00 

Total $2,594.48^ 

Profit for first eighteen months of business, $1,948.73, rep- 
resenting' what the Campbell syndicate received for their work 
in eighteen months, and no account taken of eggs and poultry 
used for the table. 

As Allison and his father sat going over these figures one 
evening in the early part of October, the senior Campbell said, 
"Well, son, this statement far exceeds my fondest hopes. Of 
course I have not contributed my share except by putting in 
crops and giving my full eight hours a day for the general 
good of the business., When next October rolls around, I hope 
to show you what those White Rocks can do, and watch out or 
I'll beat your Leghorns all hollow." 

"I recall saying to Jim Lytic the night he handed me the 
blue envelope, a year ago last Christmas, 'If my services are 
worth $1,800 per year to the Traction Company, I can surely 
make as much somewhere else.' And so I can. There is no 
longer any question about it. All doubts have been removed. 
The clouds of blackness have rolled by, and here we are all so 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 59 

happy. God truly moves in a mysterious way his wonders to 
perform. What some folks would have called a streak of "bad 
luck," was simply a blessing in disguise. We are healthier, 
happier and better for this year and a half in the country, 
and I hope that some one will carry this story of sunshine and 
encouragement to my fellow men." 

The net profits of the Campbell syndicate for the following 
3^ear were $4,521.62, divided as follows: Allison from his White 
Leghorn egg machines, as he called them, had cleared above all 
expenses in sales of eggs, broilers and stock on hand, the sum 
of $3,109.25. Dad Campbell from his famous White Rocks had 
made the splendid profit of $1,312.37 the first year, and in the 
third year of his breeding operations, his profits exceeded those 
of Allison from his egg machines by a goodly sum. 



CHAPTER XI, 




IIIERE was no Hallow-e'en celebration at 
"Happy House" — as the Campbell Syndicate 
had named their country abode — such as had 
taken place the year before, although Uncle 
Hez always claimed that the good saints were 
abroad on the night of October 31st, scattering 
their blessings with a prodigal hand. 

On this particular evening, the old gentle- 
man had partaken of his supper, read a few 
passages of Scripture, and then proceeded to 
apply a special dressing of wood-chuck oil to 
his calfskin boots so they would be in prime 
condition for "Town Meetin' Day." 

Amy had been a little more spry than usual in doing up 
the supper dishes, and getting slicked up for any callers that 
might drop in to say "How d'ye do," or pay the interest on 
their mortgage. Her usual blue and white gingham was left 
on the hook, and her fresh, clean muslin Avas put on as for 
some special occasion. 

"Seems ez haow you're a-slickin' up more'n usual tonight, 
Amy," said Uncle Hez. "S'pose mebby you're expectin' the 
young minister to drop in and talk over the weekly meetin' of 
the "Willin' Workers," ain't ye?" 

"Oh, no! the minister was here this afternoon while you 
were busy cleaning up your oats, and he said to tell you that 
Toby Williams' widder had stopped wearing mourning since 
you overtook her on the way to Smithville and asked her to 
ride." 

"Well, tarnation take it!" said Uncle Hez, "there it is 
agin. Cy Spooner wuz a-tryin' to chaff me 'baout Toby's wid- 
der yisterday. He sez, sez he, 'Uncle Hez, you know mournin' 
on a widder 's bunnit ain't alius the sign of grief.' 'No,' sez 
I, 'an' jist becuz folks opens their mouths and talks ain't no 
sign ez haow they're saying sumpthin'.' 

"I guess ez haow Cy seen I wuz sorter riled up, and he 
went 'long 'baout his bizness. If folks would spend the time 
readin' Scripture that they do indulgin' in idle gossip 'baout 
their neighbors, Amy, thay'd stand a lot better chance of in- 

60 



, The Home That Was Built by Hens 61 

heritin' the kinodom of Heaven, and the World would be a 
durned sight better of!^. " 

As Uncle Hez thus delivered himself of this bit of farmer 
philosophy, there was a rap at the door, and Amy, seeming to 
know who was coming, said, "Come in, Al. " 

Sure enough it was Al, and in he came with a "Good 
Evening" greeting that was filled with such a combination of 
love laden inflection, as to leave no doubt in the mind of any 
one, as to just how he was feeling upon this particular occa- 
sion. It may not be amiss to say that the afternoon of this 
particular day had been spent by the young folks in gathering 
chestnuts from two trees that stood on the line between the two 
farms back by the wood lot, Al claiming that as the trees 
stood more on the Walters' line than on theirs, that Amy 
should have more than half of the nuts. "It may not make 
so much difference after all," said he, "when it comes to 
crack them." 

"I see you are just as forehanded in greasing boots as 
you are in planting corn. Uncle Hez," said Allison, as soon as 
he had accepted a chair that Amy had placed at a convenient 
distance from her own. 

"Yes, I reckon that's 'baout so, and besides, Allison, I jist 
want to say ez haow it takes the same good judgment to grease 
boots ez it does to make a speech. In either case you must 
forget all 'baout yourself and think either of the boots or the 
folks you're a-talkin' to. That's the only sure way of makin' 
an impression on either." 

"AVell, I'm glad of your advise. Uncle Hez, because IVe 
come over here tonight to make a little speech, and as you 
are to be the audience, I'll just forget all about myself and 
think wholly of you. In that way, according to your theory, 
I may hope to make an impression. ' ' 

"Of course you kin tell better arter the speech is made, but 
if you don't mind, I'll put a little more grease on the heel of 
this boot while you're speech makin'." 

"Uncle Hez, if I should attempt any flowery talk, such 
as folks sometimes indulge in, I 'm afraid you would be awfully 
disappointed in me as a speech maker, but what I want to talk 
about doesn't require anything but plain words to tell. You 
see I've been thinking a good deal of late about the cold win- 
ter that's coming on and the long winter evenings. They are 
sometimes lonely for mother, and besides " 



62 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

Allison got no further with his story, for as Uncle Hez 
tilted his chair around so he could get a better view of the 
speaker, he accidentally knocked over his basin of wood-chuck 
grease that sat on the stove ; thereby sort of disconcerting 
the young man who had started out so smoothly. 

"Well, I'll be durnecl," said Uncle Hez, "'there goes fifty 
cents' worth of good grease, and I've tuk the shine all offen 
Amy's stove." 

He had surely taken the shine "offen" Allison, and Amy 
seemed "sorter upsot" herself. 

When the wreckage had been cleared away. Uncle Hez had 
to tell a story about when he caught the chuck that produced 
the grease, and how he had grown fat in a field of red kidney 
beans. This had the effect to postpone for some time the story 
that was aching to be told. Finally, however, the conversation 
lagged and Allison again started in. 

"As I w^as saying, Uncle Hez, I've been thinking for some 
time that our company needed one or two more members, and 
that maybe I could persuade you to take a share and let me 
take Amy as a sort of silent partner. We have lots of room, 
and of course you know — that is I suppose you do — how Amy 
has been getting dearer and dearer to me as the days have 
gone by, so that I've sort of come to feel that I can't get along 
without her. I've made good in my poultry venture. The 
future is bright with promise of better things to come, and I 
want Amy to share these things with me. I've thought it all 
out how we can all live together, and I am sure we would be 
happier." 

As he finished speaking, Uncle Hez sat with his hands 
folded and his chin upon his breast, looking straight into the 
glowing coals in the stove hearth before him. ]\Iotionless he 
sat, and not a word did he utter. The stillness of the room was 
only broken by the ticking of the old clock and the beating of 
two young hearts that was almost audible. 

After some moments, which to the young people seemed 
hours, Uncle Hez finally spoke, "So you want to take my 
little Amy over to the 'Happy House' to live — um — um — well, 
Amy, you seem to sorter look ez if you wuz willin' to hear the 
'Amen' of the minister and the singin' of the choir, so I s'pose 
ez haow thay ain't much for me to say." 

"But thay is sump thin' ez haow I feel in duty bound to 
speak about rite here, cuz it ain't the part of wisdom to have 
the skeleton of mystery appearin' jist when you want to listen 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 63 

to the liarmouy of the weddin' bells. Amy, you ain't never 
heard much 'baout your father and mother, and ez a matter 
of fact, I'm 'baout the only father you've ever had, and your 
mother, well, — she died when you wuz a baby." A sparkle 
was seen to appear in the old gentleman's eyes, and as it be- 
came larger, to gentl}^ roll down his wrinkled cheek. He waited 
a few moments, then gently brushed aAvay the tears that had 
gathered, and proceeded. 

"Your mother, dear, wuz my only child. AVe raised her 
with all the tender care that love could bestow on the thing 
it loved. She growed up to be a flower in our home, sheddin' 
the fragrance of a rose into our everyday lives. IMother — 
that wuz your grandma, Amy — and me uster set and watch 
her by the hour dressin' dollies, and wish that she'd alius keep 
little so's we could have her Avith us. But of course she kept 
growin', and one day we discovered ez haow our baby had be- 
come a young lady, wearin' long dresses." 

"One day, 'long in July, I wuz hoein' corn outside the 
road yonder, and a feller cum along ez sed he wuz sellin' 
planers. Our little Margaret avuz alius wishin' she could swap 
off her old melodeon for a planer, and this oily talkin' chap 
didn't take very long to git me interested in the trade. He 
cum right up to the house and allowed ez haow it was a power- 
ful shame to let our darter play on that air old music box, 
and that she wuz spoilin' her musical edicashun by so doin'. 
When he got through talkin', I avuz so ashamed that I told 
mother we'd sell our three fat steers and buy the planer. I 
remember he stayed here two nights and three days afore he 
went back to town to see about selectin' and shippin' the in- 
strument, — which we arterwards discovered avuz an inkybater 
of sorrer and dispair. " 

" 'TAvant long afore it cum and that air feller Avith it to 
'set it up and start it goin', ' ez he said. 

"He wuz a fine lookin' chap, and ez full of entertainment 
ez an egg is full of meat. He allowed ez haoAV he'd like to 
stay on a fcAV days and driA^e around through the country, 
takin' orders for planers, so I let him have old Peter — ^he aa^iz 
a colt then — and he uster take Margaret along to do the 
drivin' for him, bein' ez haoAV he Ava'n't used to drivin' bosses. 
Thay'd started off one morning as usual, and 'long 'baout five 
o'clock in the afternoon, the stashun agent come ridin' up on 
his bisickel to say ez haoAV old Peter aa'uz hitched under the 
stashun shed and our little darter had tuk the express train 



64 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

for New York City 'long with the pianer agent. The load of 
sorrer and grief ez haow that stashun agent left here on this 
farm that afternoon wuz a millstone 'raound the necks of your 
grandma and grandpa, for years to come. 

"When the sunshine of our little darter's smile wuzn't here 
to brighten the pathway of life for mother and me, things 
took on a purty blue aspect all 'raound. It wuz several days 
afore we heard a word, and then cum a letter sayin' ez haow 
this city feller had told her 'baout the buty of city life, and 
haow she would shine ez an opery singer ez soon es he'd per- 
fected her musical edicashun. Then follered a few lines sayin' 
ez haow thay'd gone down to a justice of peace daown in some 
New Jersey town and been married. Not a word wuz sed ez 
to her city address, so of course we couldn't write nor go to 
see her. Letters cum along onct in a while, but thay kept 
a-gettin' further and further apart. 

"One day 'long in the followin' spring, jist ez the daffy- 
dills wuz a-comin' in bloom, we got a telegraf despatch from 
an undertaker sayin' ez haow my presence wuz wanted at a 
sartin place on Madison Avenue in the city and a-tellin' us to 
come quick. That's the last time I wuz in the city. I went 
and there I found INIargaret a-layin' on a cold slab of marble 
and in a little baskit by her side was her baby. That baby 
wuz you. AVitli aching hearts and tears of sorrer we laid her 
to rest daown yonder in the little burying ground, while the 
tender hands of lovin' neighbors covered the grave with 
flowers from the garden her little hands had planted years ago. 
With all the tenderness and love of a father and mother, we 
cared for you. Amy, and when you wuz ten years old, grandma 
died and wuz laid away beside our little Margaret. Your 
father wuz never heard of from that day to this, and of course, 
my feelin's towards city fellers ain't been none too friendly 
since that time. Now you know the story. I've told it to you 
in the presence of the man who wants you to jine him in a 
life pardnership, and if you think your happiness will be 
secure by the makin' of this bargain, of course you've got my 
consent and blessin'." 

"When the old gentleman had finished speaking, it was sev- 
eral minutes before the conversation was resumed. Allison was 
holding the sobbing form of little Amy, while Uncle Hez was 
trjnng to replenish the embers that had been gradually dying 
out during the narration of the facts which for many years 
had slumbered in his breast, unknown to the world. 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 65 

"Gess I'll go out and see that the Jersey heifer has a little 
more fodder and bed old Peter daown for the night," said 
Uncle Hez, slowly rising and putting on his cap. 

In the silence of a sadness such as had never before come 
into the lives of the young couple sitting there in the old 
Walters' home, they renewed their pledges of love for each 
other, with a tenderness upon the part of Allison such as only 
a human heart touched by sorrow can know. 

Presently the sound of footsteps in the woodshed told of 
Uncle Hez's return, and rising to greet him with smiles that 
glistened through the tears of sadness, Allison's right arm 
holding the youthful form of his future wife close to his side, 
they received the blessing of Uncle Hez, one of God's real 
noblemen. 

The following Christmas witnessed a simple wedding at the 
Walters' homestead, as a result of which Amy Walters be- 
came the wife of Allison Campbell, and Uncle Ilez became a 
side partner in the Campbell Syndicate's poultry business. 



CHAPTER XII. 




lANY years have passed since the happening of 
those events. Uncle Hez is resting by the side 
of those who had gone before him to that place 
of perpetnal happiness, where each shall 
"know and be known." 

Under the spreading branches of those 
beantiful elms, play three youngsters whose 
happy voices are music to the loving parents 
j^ and grandparents. Here was builded so well 
the foundation of a poultry business, that to- 
^ day Ned Campbell and his son, Allison, are 
rated as the most substantial, financially, of all 
the men in that township. The profits 
mounted higher and higher each year, until the income was 
many thousands of dollars annually. And so again has it been 
proven that seeming adversity was but a blessing in disguise, 
and that God in His wisdom truly "moves in a mysterious way 
His wonders to perform." 

In bringing to a close this narrative which is founded upon 
facts, we would fail in our purpose if we did not furnish to 
our readers a synopsis, so to speak, of the methods used in 
securing the splendid results which Ned Campbell and his son 
achieved by going "back to the land" and devoting their lives 
to raising poultry. We hope that this story will carry to 
thousands of the world's toilers a message of uplift, comfort 
and encouragement. We want it to blaze the way for a new 
awakening to the independence of life in the country. We 
want it to result in thousands of young men shaking off the 
shackles of commercial slavery and placing their children where 
pure air, sunlight and the many things which God gives his 
people to live for, may become actualities and not dreams. 
Many a reader may find himself in the same position as did Ned 
Campbell on that Christmas Eve many years ago. Many of 
you are giving the best part of your lives to building up some 
other man's fortune, when you ought to be building your own. 
Many of you realize all that I have said to be true, and yet 
lack the courage to break away from your old bondage. Let 
this simple story, pointing its moral, be a lesson to all who read 

66 



The Home That Was Built by Hens 67 

it. Honest endeavor, properly directed, is bound to receive its 
just reward. Life in the country, following the Campbell 
methods, will bring comfort and independence to all who are 
earnest, and whose love for God and Nature find expression in 
the doing well whatever their hands find to do. 

HOW TO DO WHAT THE CAMPBELL'S DID. 

In the foregoing chapters of this book, we have given you the re- 
sults of the ' ' Campbell Co., ' ' poultry venture, and throughout the 
story, you will find woven into its fiction, some of the simple require- 
ments that go to make success. 

That which follows, has to do with details; and we ask, as you >nt 
down to read this part of the story, that you will do so with your mind 
prepared to take up carefully each suggestion, realizing that each one 
will make for your success, or failure, according as you follow or dis- 
regard them. 

To begin with, the poultry business is in no way different from 
every other business, in this regard, to wit.: you must have some 
knowledge of the business, otherwise you are doomed to disappoint- 
ment from the start. 

What, ask yourself, would be the result, if you were to embark in 
the grocery business, the dry-goods business, the drug business, or any 
other business, without the first idea as to its requirements? 

Your good judgment will at once tell you that failure would be the 
logical outcome. The poultry business is no expection to this rule and 
yet the knowledge of principles may be readily obtained by a careful 
perusal of the best of the poultry journals, supplemented by the various 
bulletins of the experimental stations. 

Young Campbell had his foundation laid in the knowledge obtained 
at the agricultural college, and the very same knowledge of foundation 
facts, may be obtained in the manner that I have herein suggested. 

There is nothing intricate, or mysterious about it. Just patient 
and painstaking application of well known and well established prin- 
ciples that any man or woman of good common sense and a deter- 
mination to succeed may easily apply. 

If it is your desire to engage in the "fancy" end of the business, 
select such breed as your "fancy" may suggest. Be sure, however, 
not to take up the breeding of "fancy poultry" until you have 
mastered the details surrounding the breeding of "market poultry." 

BUILDINGS. 

I believe it to be true when I say that in all probability the high- 
way of the poultry industry, has been strewn with more wrecks from 
an indulgence of expensive poultry buildings than from any other 
one cause. This is so for more reasons than one. In the first place, 
these expensive buildings are usually built for show rather than for 



68 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

practicality. Second, they hardly ever conform to the simple, yet 
absolute requirements of a "good" poultry house, in that they do not 
provide quarters that are at all times absolutely dry, well ventilated 
and free from draughts. 

Poultry buildings should be inexpensive. They must be dry. They 
must be well ventilated and free from draughts. They should face 
the east and south in such a manner as to provide an abundance of 
sunlight during the short days of the Winter months, at which time 
sunlight is of so very great importance to the flock. The poultry 
house should be so located that there is perfect drainage to the end 
that there may be no dampness. 

Within the brief space of Point No. Three we have told you of the 
essential things regarding "Buildings." The American Poultry Jour- 
nal Publishing Co. of Chicago, will furnish you with the very best 
plans and details for poultry house construction and of buildings that 
are inexpensive. 

Remember that the less your investment is the easier it will be to 
make your net earnings pay the interest upon that investment. 

FOOD. 

Under this heading you will find ample opportunity to use every 
bit of your good judgment if you would keep within the bounds of 
the realm of profitable feeding. 

There are several elements that come under this head, and I shall 
make brief mention of each. Because this reference is ''brief," is not 
to be taken as a reason for disregarding a single one of them because 
if you do, it will mean that you are simply dropping facts and flirting 
with your imagination. 

Water. Eggs are about 80 per cent water. Hence, if eggs are to 
be obtained, water must be supplied in an abundance. It must be 
f/esh and at all times kept free from filth. 

Grit. It is in the gizzard of the fowl that the grinding process 
takes place of all the grains fed and eaten. It is by this grinding 
process that the food contained in the grains is assimilated and made 
to provide the elements that go to make up the "meat" of the 'igg- 
Hence "grit" — and plenty of it — must be provided. 

Lime. The amount of lime that goes into the construction of the 
egg shell requires that an abundance of shell-making material must 
at all times be provided, and experience has shown that there is no 
one product that will do this so well as oyster shell, ground. Hard 
coal ashes are sometimes used and will do as a substitute for a short 
period if out of the oyster shell. 

Sanitation. This simply means CLEANLINESS. You will please 
note that I have spelled this word with capital letters. I do this so 
that its importance may stand out in bold type because of its very 
great importance, especially where there are large numbers of fowls 
kept together. 



The Home That Was BuiU by Hens 69 

Elbert Hubbard, the East Aurora Philosopher, says, ' ' Cleanliness 
is not only next to Godliness but it is Godliness itself." 

Clean Ktter. Clean dropping boards. Clean, wholesome air, and 
clea7i quarters generally will pay pay the biggest kind of dividends on 
the labor required to secure them. 

Lice, mites, germs and filth of all kinds must be fought religiously. 

To produce energy takes feed. Feed costs money. Energy ex- 
pended in fighting lice is money lost, and that is not the road that 
leads to success in the Poultry Business. 

FOOD. 

Two purposes are to be subserved in the feeding of your poultry. 
One is to furnish a sufficient amount for the bodily economy of the 
fowl, and the other to provide just that additional amount that is 
necessary for the production of the egg. 

Plainly here is an opportunity for the Poultryman to exercise all 
of that commodity commonly known as "horse sense," to the end 
that he may strike the proper medium and supply just the amount 
required for the purposes indicated and not waste the feed that 
costs money. 

Later on you will find feed formulas that have the approval of 
some of the very best authorities on the subject of feeding and these 
are submitted for your careful thought and application to the particu- 
lar branch of the business which you may pursue. 

THE START. 

If you have had no experience in the poultry business, start with 
a small flock. This is important on the same theory that no man 
ever made a good captain until he had first served his time as a 
private. No successful poultry business ever resulted from a plunge 
on a large scale. There are inumerable little details connected with 
the poultry business. Each of these must be mastered. Each of these 
must be given careful attention each day, in order that success may 
be assured. There is no branch of animal husbandry, or of agricul- 
ture that has better support than is given to the poultry industry by 
the poultry papers, journals and magazines. Hence the importance of 
subscribing for the best of these journals, and reading them carefully. 

Knowledge means to know. A business built upon a thorough 
knowledge of its requirements is based upon a solid foundation. A 
business built upon guess work may be compared to a house built on 
the sand. Starting with a small flock, and being successful, you may 
double your flock the second year. If, from the result of your second 
year's venture, you find yourself naturally equipped for the business, 
and the credit side of your account shows a profit, you may double 
the size of your flock the third year. 

"Go Slow," is a motto to be hung where you can see it daily. 



70 The Home That Was Built by Hens 

FEEDING. 

Volumes have been written and printed upon the subject of feeding 
and all that we will say on this subject is that "Al" Campbell found 
that the "best" way was to feed all grains in good clean litter and 
to provide a dry mash so that the fowls might help themselves at 
any time. 

This practice is entirely in accord with the ideas of the writer 
and we believe represents the best thought that has been given the 
subject by those who have had much experience and ought to Icnow. 

Do not overlook the fact that if you are trying to produce eggs in 
the Winter months you must in some manner approximate Nature 's 
conditions as far as possible, in the matter of furnishing some green 
or succulent ration for the fowls. 

There are many ways in which this may be done. There is the 
"sprouted oat" plan; the feeding of roots, alfalfa, etc. Personally, 
we are very partial to alfalfa, as we have found it to be a most excel- 
lent food. 

GENEEAL OBSEEVATIONS. 

In the opinion of the writer there is no business in which one may 
engage where there is so much of independence and splendid returns 
for the effort expended as in this Poultry Business. 

If you are in the egg business, collect eggs twice daily, summer 
and winter. Make all shipments sufficiently often to insure the abso- 
lute freshness of your product. Good, wholesome food to healthy 
birds, in clean quarters, spells money. Hatch your chicks in April 
or May. Eaise as many as you can the old fashioned way. If the 
volume of your business is large, it will require the use of incubators. 
Study the poultry papers, and the valuable catalogs furnished by the 
various incubator and brooder makers. 

The Lord gave fowl a coat of feathers sufficient to protect them in 
the most rigorous climate, if they are protected from drafts, so don't 
pamper them. 

Every hen that you keep, if properly cared for, will return you a 
net profit of $2.00 per year. 

As you learn the details of the poultry industry this profit can be 
more than doubled. 

Five hundred hens can be kept on five acres of land and show a 
net profit each year of from $1,000 to $3,000, according to the ability 
of the "man behind the hens." 

One man can easily care for five hundred fowls. 

Don 't try to get ahead too fast. Be patient and willing to learn. 

$750,000,000 are paid annually for poultry and poultry products. 

We have told you in this little book how to get your share of it. 

Don't dream about it. Get it. 

The Publishers will answer any questions you may wish to ask, 
and cheerfully give you the benefit of their experience at any time. 
Simply address your inquiry to the "Advisory Department" American 
Poultry Journal Publishing Co., Chicago, 111. 



FEEDING . THE . LAYERS 

BY J. C. GRAHAM 
Professor of Poultry Husbandry, Massachusetts Agriculture College 

With the scientific and practical development of poultry feeding there 
have come into common use a number of terms not usually understood 
by amateurs. It is necessary to know the meaning of these in order to 
read intelligently much that is written on feeds and feeding in poultry 
journals. 

Protein is a name applied to complex substances containing nitrogen. 
This food constituent is necessary in all rations, as it enters largely into 
lean meat, blood, skin, nerves, eggs, etc. 

Carbohydrates is a term used to designate a class of nutrients composed 
largely of starches and sugars. These, together with the fibre, constitute 
the bulky part of feeds. They furnish energy for the body, or are con- 
verted into fats and stored up for future use. 

Fats, as the term implies, includes the oily portions of feed, together 
with waxes, etc. These perform about the same function as carbohydrates. 

Ration. A ration is the amount of feed given a hen or flock for their 
maintenance for a period of 24 hours. It matters not whether this is 
fed at one time or at different times during the day. 

Balanced Ration. A balanced ration is the amount of feed containing 
the proper proportions of protein, carbohydrates, and fats to maintain 
a hen or flock for 24 hours without waste of any one of the nutrients. 

Growing Ration. A growing ration is a maintenance ration plus the 
amount necessary for growth. 

Egg-Laying Ration. An egg-laying ration is a maintenance ration plus 
the amount necessary for egg production. 

The table of digestible nutrients on the following page is almost self- 
explanatory. For example, in 100 lbs. of corn there are 7.8 lbs. of crude 
protein, 66.8 lbs. of carbohydrates, and 4.3 lbs. of fat. It must be kept 
in mind that these percentages do not represent the amount of crude 
protein, carbohydrates and fats in the grains and feeding stuffs, but the 
digestible portions. From the chemical analyses of the hen and the egg, 
we find that a balanced ration is one that contains 1 part protein to 
about 4.5 parts of carbohydrates and fats. Thus it is seen that of our 
common grains the one that comes nearest to being a complete ration 
for hens is oats, but on account of the fibrous husk, and many times the 
price, it is not fed to such an extent as corn and wheat. These three 
grains are the principal ones used in feeding poultry. Buckwheat and 



barley are sometimes used when tliey can be obtained at reasonable prices. 
Kafllreorn, millet seed and sunflower seed are also used in compounding 
scratch feeds, but on account of the high price of these they are considered 
too expensive to feed except in very limited quantities. The low price of 
corn compared with that of other grains makes it the most important 
grain used in feeding poultry. It should therefore form a large part 
of the ration. 

Note. — This note is inserted for the benefit of those who are interested in the 
balancing of rations. The nutritive ratio of any grain or feed is the ratio between the 
amount of digestible crude protein and the sum of the carbohydrates and fats. As the 
fuel value of fat is 2.25 times that of carbohydrates it is multiplied by that factor 
before being added to the carbohydrates. For example, the nutritive ratio of corn 
is found as follows: 

From the table on this page we find that in 100 lbs. of corn there are 7.8 lbs. of 
digestible crude protein, 66.8 lbs. of carbohydrates, and 4.3 lbs. of fats 

(4.3X2.25) + 66.8 

=9.8 

7.8 

9.8 is tlie second term of the ratio and 1 the first term. The nutritive ratio of corn 
is thus found to be 1:9.8. To find the nutritive ratio of two or more grains of feeding 
stuffs get the combined amounts of crude protein, carbohydrates and fats, and find 
the nutritive ratio of the sums as above. In compounding a mash have the nutritive 
ratio about 1:2.2 to 1:2.5 for best results. 

TABLE OF DIGESTIBLE NUTRIMENTS. 

Crude 
Name of Feed. Protein. Carbohydrates Fat. 

1. Grains — Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 

1. Corn 7.8 66.8 4.3 

■ 2. Wheat 8.8 67.5 1.5 

3. Oats 10.7 50.3 3.8 

4. Buckwheat 8.1 48.2 2 4 

5. Barley 8.4 65.3 1.6 

6. Rye 9.5 69.4-' 1.2 

7. Kafiircorn 5.2 44.3 1.4 

8. Millet 7.1 48.5 2.5 

9. Sunflower Seed 14.8 29.7 18.2 

10. Rice 6.4 72.2 .4 

2. Ground grains and their parts — 

1. Corn meal 6.7 64.3 3.5 

2. Gluten feed 21.3 52.8 2.9 

3. "Wheat bran 11.9 42.0 2.5 

4. "Wheat middlings 16.9 53.6 4.1 

5. Buckwheat middlings 27.7 37.5 6.1 

6. Red Dog flour 16.2 57.0 3.4 

7. Linseed meal 30.2 32.0 6.9 

8. Oatmeal 11.9 - 55.1 6.7 

9. Cottonseed meal 37-6 21.4 9.6 

3. Animal products — 

1. Beef scrap 66.2 13.4 

2. Dried blood 60.8 2.5 

3. Green cut bone 

4. Skim milk 2.9 5.3 .3 

5. Buttermilk 3.8 3.0 1.0 

4. Green feed — 

1. Alfalfa 117 40.9 1.0 

2. Clover 7.1 37.8 1.8 

3. Beets or mangels 1.2 7.9 0.1 

4. Cabbage 2.3 5.9 0.1 

5. Carrots 8 7.7 0.3 

6. Potatoes 8 22.9 0.3 

7. Sprouted oats 

8. Garden refuse 

Animal Products. — Green cut bone is one of the best animal products 
to feed laying hens, but there is a question as to the advisability of 
feeding it to breeders. There is no animal product that is more stimulating 
than this. Skim milk and buttermilk are very valuable feeds. There is 
not much danger in feeding too much of these. If a wet mash is fed, 
it can be moistened with skim milk or buttermilk, and in addition the 
hens may be given what they will drink. It is better to sour the skim 
milk before feeding on account of the favorable effect of the lactic acid 
upon the digestive apparatus of the hen. Of the animal products beef 
scrap is the most widely used. 

Green Feed. — It is necessary to feed laying hens some kind of green 



feed. If this cannot be fed every day, it should be fed at least two 
or three times a week. Alfalfa and clover are two very valuable green 
feeds. They can be ground and fed in a dry mash or can be cut in quarter 
or half inch lengths with an ordinary feed cutter and mixed with a wet 
mash, or soaked in water for a few hours, the water drained off, and then 
put in a trough for the chickens to eat. Beets, mangels and cabbages can 
be split open and hung in the poultry houses or placed in a trough so 
that the birds can pick them as they choose, or they can be run through 
a root cutter and then placed in troughs. In feeding carrots it is necessary 
on account of their small size to run them through a feed cutter. Sprouted 
oats are one of the best green feeds that can be obtained, but there is a 
question as to whether one can afford to feed them. As a rule, oats 
that will grow well are high in price, and we do not get the full 
nutritive value from the oats when fed in this form, but the effect of 
the sprouted oats upon the digestive system will probably offset this. 
I believe one cannot afford the sprouted oats for layers at the price usually 
paid, but I think one can for breeders, as in the latter case, it is not a 
question of the cost of the feed for them, but a question of having the 
hens in the best possible condition for the production of strong, fer- 
tile eggs. 

Rations. — There are about as many methods of feeding poultry as there 
are poultry men, and yet there are perhaps more questions asked regarding 
this subject than any other. It is a well-known fact that one can feed 
almost any ration to hens and get good results for a time, providing he 
feeds enough of it, but to feed in such a way that the hens will be 
strong and vigorous and have good appetites, and to get the most possible 
for the amount of feed and labor expended is another question. In other 
words, the time has come, with our high-priced feed, when we must feed 
^s economically as possible. 

Ration 1.- — Ration without mash. 

Good results can be obtained by feeding a grain ration and balancing 
it with milk. A good ration for this method of feeding is 2 parts cracked 
corn, 1 part wheat and 1 part oats. In addition to this, by giving the 
hens all the milk they will drink, enough protein will be furnished so 
that they can balance their own ration. 

This ration can be varied by substituting beef scrap for milk. The 
beef scrap can be fed in a hopper, and if the hens are inclined to eat 
too much of it, the hopper can be closed a part of the day. It can also 
be varied by substituting barley and buckwheat for corn and wheat 
respectively where these grains are available. A great variety of grains 
such as we find in commercial scratch feeds, can be fed and balanced by 
feeding either milk, beef scrap, or green cut bone. 

Ration 2. — Combination ration (grains and dry mash.) 

This is perhaps the most popular ration used in feeding poultry at the 
present time. In feeding this ration one can give a greater variety, utilize 
waste products and concentrates, can determine more nearly the amount 
eaten, utilize bulky materials, prevent waste, and stimulate the hens. 

The disadvantages of a dry mash are that we are apt to get the mash 
too rich, too bulky and get too much fibrous material in it, and if the 
hoppers are not constructed properly there will be more or less waste. 
It is not forcing, and birds must be taught to eat it. The advantages 
of a dry mash over a wet mash are that it saves labor, avoids decomposed 
materials, can be eaten when desired, prepared at leisure, and is more 
sanitary. 

The grains used in this ration are the same as in ration 1, and the 



two following formulae for dry mashes are recom.mendecl. There is very 
little difference in their nutritive ratio: 

Mash 1. Mash 2. 

2 parts wheat bran. 1 part wheat bran. 

1 part wheat middlings. 1 part wheat middlings. 

1 part corn meal. 1 part corn meal. 

1 part alfalfa (ground). 1 part of finely ground oats. 

% part beef scrap. 1 part alfalfa (ground). 

% part oil meal. 1 part beef scrap. 
% part gluten meal. 

Eation 3. — Combination ration (grains and wet mash). — A great deal 
has been said regarding the harmful effects of wet mash, but I believe 
it is not the wet mash that is injurious, but the method of feeding it. 
If a wet mash is used instead of a dry one, the later in the day it can 
be fed the better; but it is usually fed in the morning, and when so 
fed the hens are allowed to fill up on it. Under these conditions, they 
sit around and are inactive the greater part of the day. If the mash 
is fed in the morning, or at noon, just about half what the hens will 
eat should be given, but when fed at night they can be given all they 
will eat. I believe this is the secret of getting good results in feeding 
a wet mash. 

In pursuing this method the same grains mentioned tinder ration 1 are 
used, also the mash given in ration 2, except that is mixed to a crumbly 
Btate with water. If milk is used instead of water, about one-half the 
amount of beef scrap is omitted. The wet mash can be varied by incor- 
porating waste vegetables. These may be cooked and mixed with the 
mash, but the droppings should be watched carefully, and if they are 
found to become too watery the amount of vegetable matter should be 
cut down. 

Method. — Our method of feeding layers at the College is as follows: The 
dry mash is kept in hoppers before the hens at all times, and a scratch 
feed composed of 2 parts cracked corn, 1 part wheat, and 1 part oats 
is fed night and morning. The scratch feed is varied, depending somewhat 
upon the condition of the hens. We go into the houses occasionally at 
night and feel of the hens to see whether or not they are over fat. If 
they are, more oats and wheat and less corn are fed. Sometimes we 
feed three parts of corn to 2 parts of wheat at night and oats in the 
morning. At times oats are fed alone because hens like corn and wheat 
a little better than oats, and when the three are mixed together the 
wheat and corn are picked up first and those that eat the fastest get 
very little of the oats. At certain seasons of the year we feed more 
grain at night in the litter than the hens will eat so there will be some 
left for them to work on early the next morning. This is found to he 
a very satisfactory method. If we want to force the hens, in addition 
to the dry mash and grain, we moisten some of the mash, getting it 
to a crumbly state and placing it in troughs. This is fed at night. 

Fresh water, oyster shell and grit are kept before the hens. Potassium 
permanganate is one of the best disinfectants for drinking water. It is 
not expensive, costing about 35 cents per pound. It comes in crystal 
form and a few crystals should be placed in the drinking water, enough 
to give it a good red color. This is not a medicine, but a disinfectant 
pure and simple. 

Mangels and cabbages are fed whole every day when possible, but at least 
three times a week. The cement floors are covered with about 4 inches 
of coarse sand, then straw and baled shavings are spread over it. Last 
10 



year baled shavings were used because they were cheaper and gave good 
results. We use coarse sand instead of loam, as the sand does not pack 
but remains loose so that it can be easily scratched over. Loam would 
also become very dusty. The sand, too, makes good dusting material for 
the hens to keep down lice. 

It is impossible for one to give the exact amount of feed for a flock of 
hens, as the quantity depends upon several variable factors. If hens 
were all of the same size and of the same activity, and laid the same, 
number of eggs of the same weight, and they all had the same power of 
digestion, the amount could easily be determined, but as these are variable 
factors it is impossible to do so. The amount to feed is governed by 
the action of the hens, the amount of grain found in litter and hoppers 
at feeding time. The judgment of the attendant is the main factor in 
feeding hens, 

TWO GOOD FALL RATIONS FOR STOCK BIRDS AND 
WINTER LAYERS 

- BY PRINCE T. WOODS, M. T>. 
Managing Editor American Poultry Journal 

Here is a good fall ration for stock birds and layers you intend to winter. 
Scratch grain to be fed in automatic feeders. If you feed by hand, use twice 
daily, substituting corn feeding on cold evenings two or three times a week: 

Pounds. 

Cracked corn 300 

Heavy white oats (clipped) 120 

Wheat (hard red) 100 

Buckwheat 30 

Sunflower seed 30 

Coarse beef scrap (sifted) 20 

Dry mash to be kept before all birds all the time in box hoppers: 

Pounds. 

Wheat bran 150 

Middlings 100 

Ground oats 100 

Corn meal 100 

Gluten feed lUO 

Best fish meal 50 

Best beef scrap 50 

Every other two weeks add to the above mixture 50 pounds of old process 
linseed meal. Twenty-five pounds of dry "milk all^umen" may be substituted 
for a part of the fish or beef scrap if you have it. If neither fish nor milk 
albumen are easily obtainable, use 100 pounds of beef scrap. Be sure to feed an 
abundance of fresh succulent green food every day. Without plenty of green 
food, or with early hatched pullets and fowl that have been scantily fed all 
summer on range, this ration is apt to start a molt, particularly if the birds are 
rather closely confined. With liberal range and an abundance of greens no 
troublesome molt need be expected. Some pullets will molt anyway on being 
housed, but with us it has not interferred witli egg production. For big 
pullets in full feather and good flesh, cut out the sunflower seed and the lin* 
seed meal. 



DEC 12 1! 




American Poultry 
Journal 

Year 
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